by diabetes.co.uk
Did you know that an increasing waist size could lead to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease? Well neither did 80% of the people surveyed across 27 countries by The National Obesity Forum, which estimates that at least 33% of UK adults will be “abdominally obese” by the end of the next decade.
It is no longer just how much body fat you have that’s important, but where the fat is stored. People who are ‘apple’ shaped, and carry more fat around the abdominal area are more at risk than those who are ‘pear’ shaped and have more fat on their hips and thighs.
According to National Obesity Forum, UK is facing a public health time bomb and can’t afford to be complacent about waist size. They have urged ministers to take action by pushing abdominal obesity higher up the healthcare agenda.
The survey commissioned by the pharmaceutical company Sanofi-Aventis and backed by the World Heart Federation revealed that 75% of the GP’s questioned knew that abdominal obesity increased the risk for heart disease and diabetes, yet only 18% of patients at risk of these diseases said their waist measurements were taken.
Measuring waist size is a simple way to help identify if you are at risk. As a guide a waist circumference of 88 cm or more (35 inches) in women and 102 cm or more (40 inches) in men indicates that you are in the higher risk bracket.
The best way to measure your waist is to place a tape measure around the waist – 1cm below the belly button and measure whilst breathing out. If necessary seek medical advise about how to avoid the consequences of a spreading waistline while you still can.
