The study was conducted with nearly 360,000 people in nine European countries. Has revealed that waist measurement is a powerful indicator of the risk of premature death, although the individual weight is normal.

The scientists found that for every 5 inches of extra fat around the waist, increases by 13% in women and 17% for men the risk of premature death. Experts also say that these results provide further evidence that store excess fat around the waist is a significant health risk, even if not considered cases of people who are obese or obviously overweight.

The results showed that people who have a large waist-over 120 cm in men and more than 100 inches in women-have twice the risk of dying prematurely compared with participants in the trial who had waists small, less than 80 inches in men and 65 inches in the case of women.

The reason for this strong link between mortality risk and the storage of belly fat is not, however, adequately covered.

Dr. Tobias Pischon of the German Institute of Human Nutrition, believes it could be because abdominal fat is distinct from other adipose stores and can directly influence the development of chronic diseases releasing messenger substances.

Scientists believe that the adipose tissue in the shape of the abdomen secrete certain cytokines, hormones and metabolically active compounds that can contribute to development of some diseases, including cardiovascular disease and cancer.

As the doctor Riboli, “The good news is that you do not need expensive tests carried out to analyze this aspect of your health, because it costs nothing to measure the hip and waist.

As a measure waist circumference

Is determined with a flexible tape, millimeter, while the person standing naked and relaxed. It surrounds the entire abdomen with a tape measure and note the measurement in centimeters, after having expelled all the air.
To get a tighter value is better to make two or three attempts.

Until recently, no one knew of the importance to health of
abdominal fat, and in fact was considered not different from
subcutaneous, ie we have, above all, buttocks, hips and thighs.
However, studies published in recent years have highlighted the immense
importance, from a medical standpoint. For example, increases from two
to four times the likelihood of cardiovascular disease, so the stomach
has become a major circulatory risk factors.

But why is belly fat so dangerous? Before it was considered merely
an energy reserve, perhaps unsightly but idle a personal view from a
physiological and medical. However, now known to alter cholesterol
(raises the “bad” and low “good”), increases triglycerides and blood
pressure, increases blood clotting and causes inflammation of blood
vessels.

But his injuries did not stop there, or limited to circulatory
aspects. Also from the metabolic point of view is very harmful, since
it is considered one of the main causes, if not the leading type 2
diabetes. Fat cells located in the abdomen difficult to secrete a
hormone, adinopectina, which facilitates the action of insulin. In
addition, visceral fat harms the pancreas, the natural
insulin-producing organ.

Thus, the recommendation of experts is to monitor not only our
weight, but our belt, there may be individuals who are not overweight,
according to their BMI, but have belly, which would incur a significant
risk factor for health .