Your expanding waistline could be killing you. This is according to the American Cancer Society. A new study by the ACS indicates that men and women with the largest waistlines are twice as likely to die within 10 years, than those with smaller stomachs. This is not only the case for those that are obviously obese. Adults who are of normal weight with a higher Body Mass Index (BMI) should also be concerned. Body Mass Index is based on your weight to height ratio. In fact, experts say that even if you have not seen a significant weight gain, but your belly keeps expanding, you should make some major lifestyle changes.
Your quality of life could be affected greatly by having a significant amount of belly fat. Researchers have also linked abdominal fat to dementia, heart disease, asthma and breast cancer. The causes of death resulting from a bigger waistline included respiratory and heart disease, as well as cancer.
The majority of those affected by expanding mid-sections are adults over 50 years old. The statistics are quite staggering with 50 percent of men and 70 percent of women having unhealthy sized waistlines. There is no question that are progressively sedentary lifestyle has contributed to this problem, with the average waistline size expanding about an inch per decade for the last 50 years.
The study looked at more than 100,000 adults for nine years. A surprisingly large number,15,000 people, died during that time. The variables measured included waist size, height and weight. The chances of dying for those with an extra four inches around their waist were particularly disturbing for women. Women should be particularly aware, because 25 percent of them had a normal BMI.
So now that I’ve told you all the statistics and the problems, what can you do to prevent an expanding waistline? Typically, an increase in body fat has to do with lower muscle mass. When you notice that you shape begins to change, it is time to step up your resistance training. This abdominal fat can be more detrimental than the fat stored on your hips and thighs. It is believed to interfere with your body’s ability to process insulin and can cause your cholesterol levels to be elevated. This latest study is a reminder to look at your portion sizes, increase your activity level and make sure you’re working your muscles!
Joanne Sgro is a Television Fitness Expert, Certified Personal Trainer and Sport Nutritionist. She is Certified in Pilates, Pre-natal/Post-Partum, Yoga and Senior Fitness. She specializes in Weight Loss, Post-Rehab and Post Cancer Training. Joanne's fitness plans and recipes are available globally on her website www.fitnessanswer.com. She resides in the Phoenix, AZ area where she runs her personal training business, Fitness Answer, LLC.