Watch Your Belly

Take a look at your belly. How big is it? Is it round or flat? Hard or soft? The answers to these questions can provide clues about the likelihood of you developing certain conditions such as out-of-whack cholesterol, diabetes or heart disease.

The more fat in the abdominal area, the bigger your waist size tends to be. And a larger waistline is an independent predictor of health risks.

Research has determined that the cut-off point where health risks significantly increase for certain diseases is at 40 inches (102 cm) for men and 35 inches (88 cm) for women. Whether you are classified as “overweight” or “obese” according to your Body Mass Index (BMI)*—or even if you’re in the “normal” range—a waist size at or above these points is associated with a higher risk for type 2 diabetes, abnormal cholesterol levels, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.

The bigger your belly is, the more at risk you are of developing these conditions, and the risk increases as your BMI increases. In other words, the more overweight you are, the more problematic it is to have a bigger waistline.