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Waist Size Stronger Cardiovascular Risk Predictor Than Body Mass

A simple measurement of waist size is a valuable assessment tool for cardiovascular risk and a strong diagnostic criterion for metabolic syndrome, according to research presented at the November annual meeting of the North American Association for the Study of Obesity (NAASO) in Las Vegas.

"When you look at risk factors for metabolic syndrome, waist circumference correlates better than body mass index (BMI)," says investigator James M. Rippe, MD, associate professor of cardiology at Tufts School of Medicine and director of the Rippe Lifestyle Institute.

He urges every physician to adopt waist size as one of the "vital signs of obesity" in addition to measuring weight and calculating BMI.

In collaboration with Weight Watchers International, Rippe examined the differences for 380 subjects in the relationship between their waist circumference and BMI to cardiovascular risk factors such as the rate of maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), glucose, cholesterol levels, and blood pressure.

He found stronger relationships between waist size and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and total cholesterol to HDL ratio, compared with BMI. Only VO2max was more closely related to BMI than to waist size.

The results confirm the idea that abdominal fat is linked with higher risk than general overweight and support using waist circumference in addition to BMI to assess overall risk.

Rippe says physicians should learn for themselves or teach office staff how to measure waist circumference, which should take about 30 seconds.

"Get a cloth tape measure like a tailor would use, and with the patient in a relaxed state, find the largest circumference between the belly button and the top of the hip bone," Rippe says. "That is their waist circumference."

According to the American Heart Association, healthful goals for waist size are 40 inches or less for men and 35 inches or less for women.

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Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Beckley, E. T. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Beckley, E. T. Social Bookmarking                What's this?