Measuring belly fat with an ultrasound shows a stronger link to bad blood sugar, cholesterol, and fat levels than just measuring waist size, even when you account for a person’s age, sex, and overall weight.

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Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

42

Community contributions welcome

42

Ultrasound measurements of intraabdominal fat estimate the metabolic syndrome better than do measurements of waist circumference

Cross-Sectional Study

Human

2003 Apr

This study found that using ultrasound to measure belly fat inside the abdomen is a better predictor of unhealthy blood sugar and cholesterol levels than just measuring waist size — and it’s true even when accounting for age, sex, and body weight.

Contradicting (0)

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No contradicting evidence found

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Source Study

Ultrasound measurements of intraabdominal fat estimate the metabolic syndrome better than do measurements of waist circumference

Score: 42

DOI: 10.1093/AJCN/77.4.857

Similar Assertions

Just measuring your waist size doesn’t tell you as much about your blood sugar and cholesterol levels as an ultrasound scan of your belly fat does — even when you already know someone’s weight and age.

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As people get older, their belly fat tends to increase — and this increase is a bit more clearly linked to age when measured with ultrasound than when just measuring the waist.

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As people get older, they tend to have more fat around their organs and less under the skin, making weight and waist measurements less reliable for detecting health risks in seniors.

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