A study conducted by the American Cancer Society examined the link between waist circumference and mortality in 48,500 men and 56,343 women. All participants were age 50 or older. Over a 14 year period, 9,315 men and 5,332 women died.
The study found that large waist circumferences were linked to about twice the risk of death during the study period. A large waist circumference was defined as 47 inches or greater in men and 42 inches or greater in women.
It’s estimated that 50% of US men and 70% of US women are abdominally obese.
A large waist circumference was linked to increased risk even in individuals with a normal body weight.
What is a healthy waist circumference?
Continue reading