Weight
Fat necks & heart disease risk Waist measurement & early death
Binge eating and life expectancy Waist measurement and mortality
Skipping breakfast and cancer Obese mothers risk baby abnormalities
Having a fat neck increases heart disease risk
Is your shirt collar getting tighter? If so, you may be at an increased risk of heart disease even if you have a relatively slim waist.
Research from the Framingham Heart Study* that followed 3,320 people, has shown that fat carried around the neck is closely associated with some of the known risk factors for heart disease including cholesterol profile and diabetes. There is a link between neck measurement, levels of 'good' cholesterol and blood sugar level.
The findings of this study showed that, as neck circumference increased, so did some of the risk factors for heart disease. Although the measurement was not linked to LDL (bad) cholesterol level, people with higher neck circumferences had lower HDL (good) cholesterol levels. In addition, they also had higher blood sugar levels.
It seems that this is a strong risk indicator too as the association with heart disease was still present even after the data was adjusted for abdominal visceral fat levels. However, the risk was compounded for those with a high waist measurement AND a high neck measurement.
Abdominal visceral fat level has been used for some time now, along with waist measurement, to identify an individual's risk of heart disease. However, it now seems as if we should be adding neck measurement to our screening protocols.
* The Framingham Heart Study was started in 1948 to identify the common factors that contribute to cardiovascular disease by following its development over a long period of time.
Obese mothers risk having babies with abnormalities
Research has shown that pregnant women who are obese risk giving birth to babies with abnormalities. In fact, obese women are twice as likely to have a baby with spina bifida or another neural tube defect. In addition to this, the risk of the baby having a heart defect or cleft lip is also raised if the mother is obese. This is especially concerning as approximately one fifth of pregnant women in the UK are classed as obese.
Past research has soundly shown that obese women have more difficulty conceiving and that they & their babies are more likely to suffer from a range of health problems throughout pregnancy. However, it is now becoming clear what type of risks are present for the unborn child of an obese women.
Although pregnant women should not attempt to lose weight, women who are thinking about trying to conceive should first of all check their weight and consider losing weight prior to becoming pregnant so as to safeguard themselves and their baby through pregnancy.
Waist measurement is one of the strongest indicators of early death
A Europe-wide study of almost 360,000 people has shown that waist measurement is one of the most powerful indicators of the risk of early death amongst both men and women (Pischon et al (2008). General and Abdominal Adiposity and Risk of Death in Europe. The New England Journal of Medecine, 359;2105-2120.).
Several studies have recently hinted that waist circumference could be one of the strongest indicators of health risks but this new research seems to confirm this. It can now be said with certainty that carrying excess fat around your waist dramatically increases the risk of early death, even if weight (as measured by BMI) is categorised as 'normal'.
With regard to waist measurement, this latest study found that:
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Men with waist measurements above 47 inches (119cm) are twice as likely to die early compared to those with waists smaller than 31.5 inches (80cm)
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Women with waist measurements above 39 inches (99cm) have double the death rate of those with measurements below 25.5 inches (64.7cm)
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An increase of 2 inches (5cm) on your waist measurement increases the chance of early death by 17% for men and 13% for women when BMI is unchanged
In addition to the findings concerning waist measurement, the study also investigated the influence of waist to hip ratio (WHR) on early death risk. The results showed that:
- A rise of 0.1 unit for men with a WHR between 0.78 and 1.10 indicated a 34% increased risk of early death
- A rise of 0.1 unit for women with a WHR between 0.66 and 0.98 indicated a 24% increased risk of early death
The associations between waist measurement & WHR and risk of death were stronger, in this study, among participants with a lower BMI than amongst those with a higher BMI. Therefore, although abdominal adiposity is an important factor for assessing risk of death, we still cannot discount general adiposity as measured by BMI.
For more information on waist measurement and health risks, click here to be taken to our advice pages.
Binge eating and crash dieting may reduce life expectancy
Scottish scientists studying stickleback fish have found that binge eating and crash dieting may significantly reduce life expectancy (Inness & Metcalfe (2008). The impact of dietary restriction, intermittent feeding and compensatory growth on reproductive investment and lifespan in a short-lived fish. Proceedings of the Royal Society B. Online Tuesday 29 April 2008.).
The fish were given a "binge then diet" food regime and this produced a reduced lifespan of up to 25%. As this study was carried out on fish, many of us will feel that it has no relevance for us. However, the authors believe that the findings could have implications for teenagers and children who follow extreme patterns of dieting because they are still growing.
The fish on the fluctuating diet developed normally with the males becoming as brightly coloured as usual and the females producing the normal number of eggs following reproduction. However, their lifespan was three-quarters of that of the fish who consumed a constant amount of calories every day.
Interesting, the research showed that the difference in lifespan due to an increased risk of sudden death rather than as a consequence of more rapid ageing. Professor Metcalfe, who led the research, hypothesises that the increased risk of sudden death is due to the fact that the body's tissues are more likely to have imperfections due to their uneven growth caused by the fluctuations in the fish's dietary intake.
Humans who follow extreme patterns of dieting in their teenage and childhood years whilst they are still growing may also increase their risk of sudden death in latr life. However, as Professor Metcalfe points out, "....it would be for extreme switches in diet. Just skipping lunches would not have any effect, but if they had several weeks of one diet followed by several weeks of the extreme opposite, then there could be an effect."
Abdominal obesity, heart disease and cancer risk in women
There is an increasing amount of evidence that high waist measurements increase the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), diabetes and other conditions as they reflect increased abdominal adiposity or abdominal fat levels. Now a study from America has linked high waist measurements to an increased risk of cancer too (Zh
During this 16 year study, 44,636 women were followed. 3,507 deaths occurred, of which 751 were attributed to CVD and 1,748 to cancer. The results of the study showed that abdominal adiposity was strongly related to all-cause, CVD and cancer mortality. Even in normal weight women (BMI 18.5-25.0), high waist measurements were associated with increased mortality risk.
Quite simply, this research shows that women with higher waist circumferences (over 35") are more likely to die prematurely, particularly from heart disease and cancer, when compared to women with smaller waists.
In fact, women with a waist measurement over 35" were twice as likely to die of heart disease and cancer than those women with a waist measurement of 28" or less regardless of their BMI (Body Mass Index).
The women at the greatest risk of dying prematurely were those with a high waist measurement who were also obese (BMI >30).
In this study, waist-to-hip ratio was found to be as strongly associated with risk of early death as the measurement of waist size alone. However, waist-to-hip ratio requires two measurements and therefore may be less convenient to calculate than measuring waist circumference alone.
This research reinforces that, although maintaining a healthy weight is important for all of us, keeping an eye on our waist measurement is equally important for us to be aware of our health risks.
For more information on waist measurement and health risks, click here to be taken to our advice pages.
Skipping breakfast fuels obesity rates
A recent study (April 2008) commissioned by Cancer Research UK has unveiled the fact that nearly 50% of people aged 16-24 in Britain skip breakfast at least twice a week. The worry is that this habit is fuelling the boom in childhood and adolescent obesity as it drives people to snack on high fat, high sugar foods throughout the day.
However, despite this rise in obesity, many people are still unaware of the link between obesity and an increased risk of a number of cancers. And, as Professor Jane Wardle of Cancer Research says, "We know obesity rates are rising in the UK and research has shown that this trend begins early in life. Children who are obese or overweight are more likely to become overweight or obese adults who are more at risk of cancer and other diseases."
Experts estimate that about a quarter of all cancer deaths are caused by unhealthy diets and obesity. Eating a healthy breakfast, as part of a balanced diet including plenty of fruit and vegetables, can help reduce your risk of cancer.