The Larger Your Stomach the Sooner You Die

Obesity is no laughing matter.  A European-wide study¹ published this week in the New England Journal of Medicine leaves no doubt about the risk of your waistline to your health – regardless of any other health issues you do or don’t have. 

Your abdominal fat secretes inflammatory messengers (IL-6 and TNFa Cytokine involved with systemic inflammation and regulation of immune cells. It is able to induce cell death, and inhibits tumorigenesis and viral replication. When dysfunctional it is associated with a number of disease processes.), which in turn cause your liver to ramp up its production of CRP C-reactive protein. It is an acute phase protein that increases during systemic inflammation. It is a general way to assess cardiovascular disease risk. A more sensitive test for heart disease risk is hs-CRP, highly sensitive CRP. .  Such inflammation wreaks havoc in your body and speeds the aging process resulting in premature death.  The new study proves that the more abdominal fat you have the greater your risk of premature death.

Men with waistlines of 47 inches and women with waistlines of 39 inches had almost double the risk of premature death compared to those with the smallest waistlines (31.5 inches or less for men and 25.6 inches or less for women).  For every 2 inches your waistline increases from these lowest scores your risk of premature death goes up 17%.

The study results also noted that the lowest risk of death was associated with a Body Mass Index (BMI Body Mass Index. BMI is a statistical measurement of body weight based on the person's height and weight. It does not actually measure the body fat percentage but provides an estimation of a healthy body weight. Normal BMI for adults ranges from 18.5-24.9) of 25.3 in men and 24.3 in women.  You can now buy an inexpensive scale at any larger store that will show your BMI Body Mass Index. BMI is a statistical measurement of body weight based on the person's height and weight. It does not actually measure the body fat percentage but provides an estimation of a healthy body weight. Normal BMI for adults ranges from 18.5-24.9 as well, if you are interested.