New Study Links Waist-to-Hip Ratio to Heart Disease Risk
September 5, 2007
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical have found that people with a larger waist-to-hip ratio may have a higher risk of heart disease.
Researchers found that your waist-to-hip ratio may be a more accurate measure of your heart disease than your Body Mass Index (BMI), a height-to-weight ratio frequently used as a way to gauge whether you're overweight. The study found that patients with the largest waist-to-hip ratios were twice as likely to have calcium deposits, which are a key warning sign for future heart problems, including heart attacks.
Mary Lou Perry, R.D., M.S., CDE, a nutritionist at the University of Virginia's Heart & Vascular Center, suggests you ask for a measure of your waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio at each checkup with your doctor.
"These measures are non-invasive, inexpensive and yield a lot of information," Perry says.
Steps to Improve Your Diet
There isn't a way to specifically target fat around your midsection, Perry says, but any steps you can take to eat healthier and get more exercise will pay off with weight loss around your body.
To eat healthier, Perry recommends making small changes that you can stick with.
Here are some dietary tips from Perry:
- Eat smaller portion sizes and skip dessert
- Eat fewer fried foods and saturated fat - for instance, by switching from whole milk to skim milk
- Eat one meatless meal per week
- Choose more whole grains such as brown rice and whole-wheat bread
- Eat at least five daily servings of fruits and vegetables
- Have a serving of fish each day - fish contains omega-3 fatty acids that are good for your heart
- Consume healthier fats such as olive and canola oils
"Eating a heart-healthy diet which includes lots of fresh vegetables, fruit, more fish and more monounsaturated fat would be of great benefit to those who have a high waist-to-hip ratio," Perry says.
