Waist Measurement Better Than Body Mass Index (BMI) to Gauge Health
I thought this was interesting..
Government law in Japan requires some companies to actually measure men and women's waist, and if they fall above the pre-determined unhealthy measurement, they are given dieting guidance to lose weight!
So, what is the government limits for waist measurements?
- 33.5 inches for men
- 35.4 inches for women
According to the article, http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/06/13/how-does-your-waist-measure-up/, "...The Journal of Clinical Epidemiology showed that body mass index is the "poorest" indicator of cardiovascular health, and that waist size is a much better way to determine, for both sexes, who is at a higher risk for hypertension, diabetes and elevated cholesterol."
The International Journal of Obesity said that the weight-height ratio may be even better at determining health risks, which is your waist should be less than half your height.
What do you think? How do you measure up? Is this simplifying complicated issues, including health risk and health status?
Comments
I find it interesting that the government and private industry take such an aggressive role in monitoring the weight of its citizenry.
But I'm puzzled by how the measurements work. What seems to be an acceptable waist measurement for a woman who is five feet tall may not by ideal for a woman who is say 5-feet-6-inches tall, etc. I've heard that carrying extra weight around your waist (or the apple shape) may be an indicator for cardiovascular health, but the one-size-fits-all approach seems a little off to me. Great question ...
Here are some other interesting articles about BMI and health:
Kristin Park: How Can I Be Skinny AND Obese??!?!?
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