Expansion of waist circumference increases risk of death
Prof. Dr. Osman Müftüoğlu, citing research conducted on 650,000 adults, stated that every 5-centimeter increase in waist circumference raises the risk of mortality.
A comprehensive study involving hundreds of thousands of adults has revealed the critical effects of body fat distribution, particularly waist circumference width, on health.
Scope and Results of the Research
The extensive study, which evaluated approximately 650,000 adults, revealed a direct relationship between waist circumference and the risk of mortality. Experts drew attention to risk factors associated with fat accumulation in light of the obtained data.
According to the shared data, every 5-centimeter increase in waist circumference was associated with an increase in the risk of death of approximately 7 percent in men and 9 percent in women.
Critical Thresholds by Gender
The study noted that in men with a waist circumference exceeding 110 centimeters, the risk of death was approximately 50 percent higher compared to those under 90 centimeters.
In women, a waist circumference of 95 centimeters and above was associated with an approximately 80 percent higher risk compared to measurements below 70 centimeters.
Dangers of Visceral Fat
Stating that the scale only shows total body weight, experts express that the region where fat accumulates in the body is of vital importance.
Visceral fat accumulating in the abdominal region and around internal organs can increase the risk of insulin resistance, fatty liver disease, high blood pressure, and heart disease.
Waist-to-Height Ratio Calculation
It is emphasized that one of the practical indicators that can be used to evaluate waist circumference is the waist-to-height ratio, and that this ratio contains important clues.
It was stated that an individual with a height of 170 centimeters should keep their waist below 85 centimeters, and exceeding the 0.5 ratio indicates an increased risk.
Metabolic Alarm Levels
A waist-to-height ratio reaching 0.6 is among the details included in the research as an indicator that a metabolic alarm is starting to ring.
According to general measurements, it was reported that the risk begins to rise starting from 80 centimeters in women and 94 centimeters in men, and becomes pronounced at certain limits.