Health Discoveries in General Health News
Large waist linked to higher death rate in both men and women
August 12, 2010
Having a large waist circumference, which has been associated with a host of diseases including diabetes and heart disease, may lead to a greater risk of death from any cause over a nine-year period, according to the Archives of Internal Medicine.
The connection of large waist size to many diseases appears to stem from the fat tissue in the viscera surrounding the organs in the abdomen, which is considered more dangerous than fat tissue under the skin.
Researchers at the American Cancer Society in Atlanta studied long-term data involving more than 100,000 men and women, age 50 or older, who were tracked from the early 1990's until 2006. In that time, 9,315 men and 5,332 participants died.
After adjusting for body mass index (BMI) and other risks, large waists - 47 inches or larger in men and 42 inches or larger in women - were associated with twice the risk of death during the study period, the study found.
Heart health initiatives, such as reducing weight, are part of the community health promotion and education programs of the North Shore-LIJ Health System. Programs include community screenings in collaboration with the American Heart Association and a heart healthy school program for school children in grades K-8.
The connection of large waist size to many diseases appears to stem from the fat tissue in the viscera surrounding the organs in the abdomen, which is considered more dangerous than fat tissue under the skin.
Researchers at the American Cancer Society in Atlanta studied long-term data involving more than 100,000 men and women, age 50 or older, who were tracked from the early 1990's until 2006. In that time, 9,315 men and 5,332 participants died.
After adjusting for body mass index (BMI) and other risks, large waists - 47 inches or larger in men and 42 inches or larger in women - were associated with twice the risk of death during the study period, the study found.
Heart health initiatives, such as reducing weight, are part of the community health promotion and education programs of the North Shore-LIJ Health System. Programs include community screenings in collaboration with the American Heart Association and a heart healthy school program for school children in grades K-8.