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Remember the adage about women being "pear shaped" and men being "apple-shaped" as it applied to health risk? Women tend to carry more fat in the lower part of their body-their hips and thighs-while men tend to accumulate excess fat around their waist. For decades, studies have shown a higher risk of heart disease and other serious illnesses when people have a large amount of fat on their abdomen. Many women who have large hips have been fooling themselves into believing they were safe from these conditions because they have more fat on their hips than their abdomen. However, having a significant amount of abdominal fat puts you at increased risk, regardless of how much larger your hips are.
Now there's a measurement you can use to tell if you have too much fat around your midsection and may be at risk for these chronic diseases. It's a new place to measure your 'waist' and the measurement, I'll warn you now, will be larger than your usual waist measurement if you're a woman: It's no longer at "the smallest part" like you use to measure for sewing patterns.
The National Institute of Health gives these instructions for finding your new number: Place a tape measure around your bare abdomen just above your hipbone. (The tape measure usually passes over your belly button when it's in the right place). Be sure that the tape is snug, without compressing your skin, and is parallel to the floor. Relax, exhale, and measure your waist.
Now what to make of the number? Health experts have found that women with a measurement greater than 35 inches, and males with a measurement of more than 40 inches, should be considered to have more health risks than people with lower waist measurements.
Now what to do if your number is greater than 35 if you're a woman or greater than 40 if you're a man: Commit to starting a weight reduction program for your health. There are only two ways to get rid of excess body fat: eat less and exercise more. Start gradually by trying to get in some extra walking during the day, and cutting down on high calorie foods. Aim for losing one to two pounds each week. And keep working towards getting your waist measurement down to a healthier number so you can enjoy a longer and healthier life! For assistance with weight loss, always be sure to communicate with a reliable health care professional, such as your dietitian or doctor.
Laurie Beebe, a registered dietitian certified in adult weight management, has transitioned into diet coaching. Coaching helps dramatically by allowing people to set their own goals and design their own action plans. Please visit Laurie's website, "Shaping Your Future" at http://www.mycoachlaurie.com for diet tips, links to great books and websites, or to sign up for a free monthly newsletter!
