Health risks of increased waist circumference and visceral fat
According to research shared by Osman Müftüoğlu, every 5-centimeter increase in waist circumference raises the risk of mortality. Fat distribution matters more than weight.
A new study evaluating data from approximately 650,000 adults has revealed that every 5-centimeter increase in waist circumference raises the risk of mortality by 7 percent in men and 9 percent in women.
The Danger the Scale Cannot Show
The scale only tells the total weight, but it does not provide information about where this weight is gathered in the body. The primary determining factor for health is not weight itself, but where the fat is located.
While subcutaneous fat around the hips and legs behaves more passively, visceral fat accumulating inside the abdomen around organs poses a serious threat to metabolism.
Effects of Visceral Fat
Fat around organs produces inflammatory substances and triggers the risk of insulin resistance, fatty liver, blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes.
This situation also increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases, directly challenging not just physical appearance, but metabolic health.
The Risk of Every 5-Centimeter Increase
In a comprehensive study examining approximately 650,000 adults, it was determined that every 5-centimeter growth in waist circumference increases the risk of mortality by about 7 percent in men.
The same increase rate was directly associated with an elevation in the risk of mortality by approximately 9 percent in women.
Critical Thresholds by Gender
In men with a waist circumference exceeding 110 centimeters, the risk of mortality is about 50 percent higher compared to those with a measurement smaller than 90 centimeters.
For women, a waist circumference of 95 centimeters and above increases the risk by approximately 80 percent when compared to measurements below 70 centimeters.
Hidden Danger in Normal-Weight Individuals
This risk relationship created by the increase in waist circumference manifests itself in the same way even in individuals whose weight appears normal from the outside.
The scale making a person look thin is not a sufficient criterion to clear the metabolic record of the belly.
Practical Measurement and Height Ratio
According to the most practical formula shared by health experts, waist circumference should be smaller than half of one's height, and exceeding the 0.5 ratio indicates an increased risk.
While taking tape measurements, the belly should not be pulled in, breath should not be held, and evaluations should be made over real values.
Preserving Muscle Mass
During rapid and uncontrolled weight-loss processes, valuable muscle mass can be lost along with fat, which negatively affects the metabolism.
The goal should not only be to get lighter on the scale, but to protect the body's muscle mass while reducing harmful fats in the abdominal region.