Bigger waist over 6 years? Higher risk of dying or heart problems.
Increase in waist circumference over 6 years predicts subsequent cardiovascular disease and total mortality in nordic women
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Waist gain predicted death and heart disease even in women with normal BMI at baseline.
Common belief: if your BMI is normal, you’re safe. This shows fat distribution can be a hidden threat.
Practical Takeaways
Monitor your waist size over time—even if you’re thin or fit.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Waist gain predicted death and heart disease even in women with normal BMI at baseline.
Common belief: if your BMI is normal, you’re safe. This shows fat distribution can be a hidden threat.
Practical Takeaways
Monitor your waist size over time—even if you’re thin or fit.
Publication
Journal
Obesity
Year
2015
Authors
S. Klingberg, K. Mehlig, A. Lanfer, C. Björkelund, B. Heitmann, L. Lissner
Related Content
Claims (4)
An increase in waist circumference is quantitatively associated with increased all-cause mortality risk in adult humans.
Unlike belly fat, gaining or losing fat around the hips didn’t seem to affect how likely women were to die or have heart disease over six years.
Women who gained belly fat over six years were more likely to die or have heart problems later, even if they weren't overweight to begin with.
Women who started at a normal weight or had smoked in the past were at the highest risk if their waist got bigger over six years.