Belly full of danger

Belly full of danger

Doctors should measure more than your weight at appointments. They should measure your waist. For years, scientists have observed that an apple-shaped figure or a big beer belly is a health risk. But now they have gained more insight into why this is so.

They have discovered that people with wide girths are more likely to have large amounts of deep-hidden belly fat around their organs. It might be the most dangerous kind of fat and could increase a person's risk of diabetes, heart disease, stroke and some types of cancer.

This fat, which is called visceral or intra-abdominal fat, is linked to high cholesterol, high insulin, high triglycerides, high blood pressure and other problems. Researchers are investigating whether visceral fat secretes more inflammatory molecules that are linked to diseases than other types of fat.

And because most people in the US weigh too much and many carry extra weight in the belly, experts are racing to discover how to reduce the killer fat. Studies indicate that regular exercise, such as brisk walking, can decrease such fat.

At greatest risk of developing health problems from too much hidden belly fat are men whose waists are wider than 40 inches and women whose waists are wider than 35 inches.

USA Today