Tuesday Sep 08, 2009
Waist Size Can Predict Lifespan
Prevention Magazine recently published an article that indicates belly fat to be far more serious that previously thought. The new study identifies the problem to be extra pressure that those additional pounds of fat put on individual body organs while also stressing the entire circulotory system - including the heart. Extra belly fat has such a negative effect on overall heath that your waist size can now be an accurate predictor of lifespan. Here are the numbers: Those with waist sizes over 32 inches for women and over 40 inches for men can expect a twenty percent reduction in lifespan. Based on the newly revised longevity estimates, an overweight woman is giving up about 17 years of her life, while a man is giving up about 16 years. Here's the big question: Is it worth it? Is that fast food, pie, cake, and other unhealthy, greasy, deep-fried food so tasty that you're willing to exchange 16 or 17 years of your life for a few minutes of pleasure? Seems like the answer would be obvious, but based on the newest health data, approximately fifty percent of the U.S. population is now obese. So it appears that giving up the last twenty percent of a normal lifespan in exchange for the taste of fat is a fair tradeoff for over half of us. The big question - Which half are you in?
Posted at 01:55PM Sep 08, 2009 by Jill Reid in General |
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