Waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio measure cardiovascular disease risk more accurately than traditional body mass index, according to a study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Researchers analyzed data from more than 260,000 individuals who were monitored for an average of approximately 20 years. The study evaluated how effectively body mass index, waist circumference, and waist-to-hip ratio predicted major cardiovascular outcomes, including heart attacks, strokes, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and death from cardiovascular causes.
Body mass index, commonly known as BMI, is a standard health metric calculated by dividing a person's weight by their height squared. Although clinicians routinely use BMI to classify weight categories, the index does not measure fat distribution across the body or distinguish between muscle mass and abdominal fat.
Abdominal Fat and Heart Risks
The study found that many participants with a normal body mass index carried dangerous levels of fat around their abdomen, which was associated with a higher likelihood of developing heart problems. Among participants with a normal weight based on body mass index, approximately 18 percent had an elevated waist-to-hip ratio.
Individuals with normal weight but a high waist-to-hip ratio faced a 15 to 50 percent higher risk of developing most cardiovascular diseases compared with participants whose fat was not concentrated in the abdominal region. By contrast, some participants classified as obese under body mass index metrics who did not have marked abdominal obesity showed no elevated risk across most of the studied health conditions.
The waist-to-hip ratio is calculated by dividing waist measurement by hip measurement to assess central fat accumulation. Atrial fibrillation, one of the conditions evaluated, is an irregular heart rhythm that increases the risk of blood clots, while heart failure occurs when the heart cannot pump blood efficiently.
Dangers of Visceral Fat
Study authors stated that calculating body mass index alone is insufficient to evaluate an individual's health status. They noted that visceral fat, which surrounds internal organs in the abdominal cavity, represents the primary danger because it promotes chronic inflammation, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
The Journal of the American College of Cardiology is a peer-reviewed medical publication covering research on cardiovascular health and clinical treatment protocols.
Treatment Outlook
Earlier research cited in the report showed that the medication tirzepatide reduces the risk of heart attacks and strokes among high-risk patients, highlighting emerging medical options for managing cardiovascular risk factors.
