Study Finds Waist Size Better Predictor of Heart Disease Risk Than BMI

A person's waist size may be a more telling indicator of cardiovascular disease risk than their body mass index alone, according to a large-scale study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. The research, which followed more than 260,000 individuals over an average of 20 years, found that waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio can significantly reclassify heart disease risk across all weight categories, challenging the long-standing reliance on BMI as the primary measure of health.

The study, conducted by researchers from the Cross Cohort Collaboration, analyzed data from 15 cohorts, predominantly in the United States. Participants were assessed for nine cardiovascular outcomes, including heart attack, stroke, heart failure, and atrial fibrillation. The findings revealed that a substantial number of people classified as normal weight or overweight by BMI standards actually carried elevated abdominal fat, placing them at higher risk. Among those with a normal BMI, 5 percent had a high waist circumference and 18 percent had a high waist-to-hip ratio. In the overweight group, 39 percent had a high waist circumference and 40 percent had a high...