Sheehan Health Network

YOUR HEALTH STARTS WITH YOU: Health and Wellness Message

Work on Your Waistline Now!

April 9th, 2010

Tags: chronic disease, body fat, bmi, waist,

Do you know the size of your waistline or your body shape? If you have an "apple shaped" body, fat is concentrated in the abdomen. Having a "thick" waistline is a risk factor for numerous chronic diseases. Extra body fat around the stomach more than 35 inches (89 cm) for women, and more than 40 inches (102 cm) for men increases your risk of heart attack and diabetes. If you have excessive abdominal fat, you are more likely to have high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease.

MEASURE YOUR WAIST
The easiest way to tell if you have too much abdominal fat is to measure your waist circumference. Take a tape measure and place it around your bare abdomen, just above your hipbone. Make sure that the tape is snug and parallel to the floor. Relax, exhale, and measure your waist.

If your waistline has excessive body fat, take action now.

You cannot shrink your waist circumference by doing sit-ups alone. Reduce your intake of fat, saturated fat, and calories. It takes time to lose weight in your stomach because this is where you store body fat first. Eat fiber-filled foods and do 30 minutes of aerobic exercise every day. With proper exercise, and the right diet, you can reduce your waistline and risk factor for chronic diseases.

Ask Our Outreach Department about Taking the Tape Measure Test! Call (716)848-2124.

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1 "Waist Measurement."Healthwise. 2009.< http://www.health.com/health/library/mdp/0,,zm6241,00.html>(24 Feb 2010).
2"Waist and Weight Measurement: Tools for Adults." 2008. (24 Feb 2010).
3 "Waist Circumference."2010.(24 Feb 2010).
4 Morales, Tatiana. "Are you a Pear or an Apple?" 2005. (24 Feb 2010).

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