Battle of the Bulge - Look at your waist !

Measuring your waist all circumference and looking in the mirror to see where your excess pounds are sitting may be even more important when it comes to looking at your weight and determining whether that excess weight is putting you at risk for disease.  A recent study in the Archives of Internal Medicine looked at the association between waist circumference (WC) and all cause mortality among more than 100,000 adults over the age of 50 who were part of  Cancer Prevention  Study.  This is a large study of older adults which looks at the impact of environmental and lifestyle risk factors on cancer.  It found that all people with bigger waists (think Muffin Top) had a significantly higher risk of death from illness including heart disease, cancer and respiratory problems.  It is believed that the fat that is stored behind the abdomen is more harmful then the fat that is stored on the hips and thighs.  This visceral fat is believed to be more metabolically active and is linked to insulin resistance and other factors causing harmful inflammation.  So, having excess abdominal fat, or an apple shaped body, is associated with high BP, High Cholesterol, diabetes and more.   After YOU read this, get out your tape measure and and find our your waist circumference.  HOW ? Measure your waist at the narrowest part of of your trunk about one inch above  your belly button.  Wrap the tape measure around you in a circle.  Take a couple of normal breaths and then tighten the tape around your waist.  It should be snug, but not too tight.  And DON'T suck in your stomach !  A WC at or above 40 inches for men and 35 inches for women is in the "danger zone."  Even if you may not have that many inches of waist, you still need to access your "rolls" - as this can be the best early warning sign of what's to come.  Remember what I said "what you ignore later, will cause problems later for your health".  As always, the best way to combat this problem is with a combo of healthy eating and LOTS of exercise !  Start out small and then work your way to a better YOU !  It IS possible and I DARE anyone to tell me different.   DEDICATION and MOTIVATION need to be introduced to your vocabulary !

"Peace, Love and Fitness"