A person's waist size may reveal more about their heart health than the number on the scale, according to new research.A study found that waist measurements can identify potential cardiovascular risks that may be missed when doctors rely on body mass index (BMI) alone.Researchers from the Cross-Cohort Collaboration analyzed data from nearly 260,000 adults enrolled in 15 long-term health studies, following participants for about 20 years.A study found that waist measurements can identify potential cardiovascular risks that may be missed when doctors rely on BMI.(iStock)BMI IS WRONG WAY TO MEASURE OBESITY, RESEARCHERS SAY — HERE’S WHAT THEY RECOMMEND INSTEADThe findings, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, showed that some people considered a normal weight based on BMI still carried higher levels of fat around their midsection.Among participants in the normal and overweight BMI ranges, those with larger waist measurements or higher waist-to-hip ratios generally faced a 15% to 50% greater risk of several heart-related problems and death during the study period, according to the study.The results suggest that looking at how weight is distributed across the body may provide a more complete picture than BMI alone.CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES"BMI only tells us weight relative to height, it doesn't tell us where fat is stored, and that matters," Erin Palinski-Wade, a New Jersey-based registered dietitian, certified diabetes educator and author of the book "The Sleepdemic Solution," told Fox News Digital.Fat carried around the abdomen can pose different health concerns than fat stored elsewhere on the body, said Palinski-Wade, who was not involved in the study.Among people with normal or overweight BMI's, larger waist sizes or higher waist-to-hip ratios were generally linked to a 15% to 50% higher risk of heart-related health problems and death during the study.
(iStock)"Where you carry fat matters more than how much you carry, because ...