(at least when it comes to body shape)
It’s well established that being apple-shaped is linked to an increased risk of heart disease and stroke in overweight and obese people. Now research in the European Heart Journal confirms this is the case even in those at a healthy weight. More than 2,600 postmenopausal women of a healthy weight were included in the study. Those who had more fat around their waistlines combined with less fat around their legs were three times more likely to have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. The research highlights once again that weight may not be the best measure for monitoring health. Instead, looking at the amount of fat we have – and where it’s mainly stored – may be a better method for identifying the risk to health. A good starting point is to measure your waist. Regardless of your Body Mass Index, if your waist is more than 80cm (31.5in) if you’re a women or 94cm (37in) if you’re a man, you should aim to lose weight. If this is the case for you, try our diet plan on p74.