Your waist size may reveal health risks BMI misses

Researchers from Rutgers Health have found that a simple waist measurement could reveal important health risks that weight alone might miss. Published in JAMA Network Open, the study suggests that checking waist size could be an effective way for doctors and patients to identify unhealthy levels of body fat and related health concerns early on.

Lead author Aayush Visaria noted that something as basic as checking waist size could give an early indication of potential health issues such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some cancers. The study analyzed data from 1,900 U.S. adults aged 20 to 59, comparing various methods of identifying obesity. The researchers found that measuring waist circumference, either alone or in combination with BMI, was nearly as effective as a more complex approach that includes several body measurements.

Waist circumference is easier to measure and is included in clinical guidelines, making it a practical option for clinicians and patients. The study highlights the limitations of BMI, which often fails to identify people with excess body fat and does not account for where fat is stored in the body. The findings suggest that wider use of waist measurements could make obesity screening more practical while still identifying many individuals at risk for health problems.