Recognize Diabetes Risk Better to measure waist rather than BMI

Waist instead of BMI: Better marker for assessing diabetes risk
(aid) - For the assessment of diabetes risk, the waist circumference is significantly more meaningful than the body weight or the body mass index. This is the conclusion of a study by the University of Halle. The scientists had evaluated four studies with a total of over 10,000 participants from different regions of Germany. The results of the study on adult human health in Germany (DEGS) with around 3,100 subjects also contributed to the evaluation of various anthropometric markers: body weight and height, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, waist-hip and waist-size ratio were put to the test.

One common measure used to estimate body weight is BMI, which is the ratio of weight (in kg) to height (in m squared). The BMI, however, does not take into account where the fat sits. And that is crucial for the health risk. Fat in the abdomen is particularly harmful because it collects on the internal organs and is very active in metabolism. The waist circumference, on the other hand, reflects the state of the abdominal organs and allows assessment of the visceral (in-body) adipose tissue.

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The study results now confirmed a link between this body data and the risk of developing type 2 diabetes: between the markers of the abdominal fat, such as waist circumference and the ratio of waist circumference to body size, was more closely related to this typical diet-related disease than it is in weight and BMI the case was. That could be proven for men and women alike.

The waist circumference can be determined easily. When the upper body is free, the measuring tape is put on standing at the level of the belly button and guided in a straight line around the abdomen. He should not exceed 88 cm in women and 102 cm in men. Special fitness programs are in addition to a balanced diet suitable to reduce the belly fat. (Heike Kreutz, aid)