News > Why midlife health is more than a waist measurement

Why midlife health is more than a waist measurement

GPs and health professionals commonly measure waist circumference which is a better indicator than body mass index (BMI) of the amount of intra-abdominal fat. An even better indicator is the waist-to-height ratio. But people have a propensity to gain weight around the middle during midlife. Are they doomed to ill health? It turns out that, although such measurements are important, they are not the whole story when it comes to your risk of disease and death.