Gaining a few centimeters around your waist makes you more likely to get sick or die, even if your total weight doesn't change.
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (8)
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Waist Circumference and Metabolic Syndrome: The Risk for Silent Coronary Artery Disease in Males
This study found that waist circumference is linked to a higher risk of heart disease in men, supporting the idea that waist circumference is linked to metabolic disease.
Body mass index, waist circumference, and waist-to-height ratio for prediction of multiple metabolic risk factors in Chinese elderly population
This study found that waist circumference is a good predictor of health risks in older adults, supporting the idea that waist circumference is linked to metabolic disease.
This study found that waist circumference is a good indicator of health risks in children and teens, supporting the idea that waist circumference is linked to metabolic disease.
The study found that people with bigger waistlines had a much higher risk of metabolic problems, even if they weren’t necessarily overweight overall — meaning waist size matters on its own.
This study found that waist circumference can help identify health risks in people with spinal cord injuries, supporting the idea that waist circumference is linked to metabolic disease.
Determination of Child Waist Circumference Cut Points for Metabolic Risk Based on Acanthosis Nigricans, the Children’s Healthy Living Program
This study found that waist circumference can help predict health risks in children, which supports the idea that waist circumference is linked to metabolic disease.
Differentiating the Associations of Waist Circumference and Body Mass Index With Cardiovascular Disease Risk in a Chinese Population
This study found that waist circumference is a better indicator of diabetes risk than body mass index in Chinese adults, supporting the idea that waist circumference is linked to metabolic disease.
Waist Circumference Is the Best Index for Obesity-Related Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Individuals with Spinal Cord Injury
This study found that waist circumference is a good indicator of heart health risks in people with spinal cord injuries, supporting the idea that waist circumference is linked to metabolic disease.
Contradicting (3)
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This study found that the link between waist circumference and mortality risk may depend on other factors, such as lifestyle and health status.
This study found that having a low waist circumference may not always be beneficial, especially in older adults, which challenges the idea that waist circumference is directly linked to mortality risk.
This study found that losing weight and reducing waist circumference may not always be beneficial, which challenges the idea that waist circumference is directly linked to mortality risk.