A Waist Too Big?

In former times it was considered a sign of wealth to have a ‘tummy’ – at least for self-important men. Now it’s quite the opposite; a flat, 6-pack belly is the ideal, showing that you take care of yourself (or that you’ve spent too much time in jail). Not many of us can reach this ideal. But waist size is now assuming importance as a medical measurement of interest. It’s been shown to be linked with the risk of dying prematurely, thanks to recent studies.

Doctors are now well-informed about the metabolic syndrome. The risk factors that make up the syndrome are: raised blood pressure, raised blood sugar, raised serum triglycerides, lowered high-density (‘good’) cholesterol, and increased waist size. Having four of these five factors meant that you had the metabolic syndrome (or Syndrome X, as it was originally called).

Diabetes and cardiovascular specialists experts have now met together and come up with a better definition, which gives more emphasis to waist size than before; the safe ‘upper limit’ is now 37 inches for men, and 31.5 inches for women. Anyone with a waist size above these limits and has any two of the other risk factors (blood pressure, blood sugar, triglyceride and HDL cholesterol levels) is now considered a metabolic syndrome patient. (Note: the waist size limits are lower for Asiatic people).

An increased waist size is regarded as a sign of central obesity, which is clearly linked to an increased risk of developing diabetes, coronary heart disease, and stroke. The underlying condition is almost certainly a decreased sensitivity to insulin – something that is not easy to measure, which is why we have to use the complicated 5-test procedure to diagnose the syndrome. But of course, having any one of the five risk factors is worth taking care of, with the help of your doctor. Meanwhile, get out your tape-measure.