{"id":2398,"date":"2017-10-21T10:37:58","date_gmt":"2017-10-21T15:37:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.cathybiase.com\/?p=2398"},"modified":"2017-10-21T10:37:58","modified_gmt":"2017-10-21T15:37:58","slug":"important-waist-circumference-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cathybiase.com\/index.php\/2017\/10\/21\/important-waist-circumference-health\/","title":{"rendered":"How Important is your Waist Circumference to your Health?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Let’s look at your waist circumference.<\/p>\n

What you weigh can matter but your weight circumference may matter more.<\/p>\n

Waist Circumference (AKA \u201cBelly Fat\u201d):<\/u><\/p>\n

Do you remember the fruity body shape descriptions being like an \u201capple\u201d or a \u201cpear\u201d? The apple is round around the middle and the pear is rounder around the hips\/thighs.<\/p>\n

THAT is what we’re talking about here.<\/p>\n

Do you know which shape is associated with a higher risk of sleep apnea, blood sugar issues (e.g. insulin resistance and diabetes) and heart issues (high blood pressure, blood fat, and arterial diseases)?<\/p>\n

It’s the apple!<\/p>\n

And it’s not because of the subcutaneous (under the skin) fat that you may refer to as a \u201cmuffin top\u201d. The health risk is actually due to the fat inside the abdomen covering the liver, intestines and other organs there.<\/p>\n

This internal fat is called \u201cvisceral fat\u201d and that’s where a lot of the problem actually is. It’s this \u201cun-pinchable\u201d fat.<\/p>\n

The reason the visceral fat can be a health issue is because it releases fatty acids, inflammatory compounds, and hormones that can negatively affect your blood fats, blood sugars, and blood pressure.<\/p>\n

And the apple-shaped people tend to have a lot more of this hidden visceral fat than the pear-shaped people do.<\/p>\n

So where your fat is stored is more important that how much you weigh.<\/p>\n

Am I an apple or a pear?<\/u><\/p>\n

It’s pretty simple to find out if you’re in the higher risk category or not. The easiest way is to just measure your waist circumference with a measuring tape.<\/p>\n

Women, if your waist is 35\u201d or more you could be considered to have \u201cabdominal obesity\u201d and be in the higher risk category. Pregnant ladies are exempt, of course.<\/p>\n

For men the number is 40\u201d.<\/p>\n

Of course this isn’t a diagnostic tool. There are a lot of risk factors for chronic diseases. Waist circumference is just one of them.<\/p>\n

Reducing the size of your waste circumference is a positive step for improving your health.\u00a0 Here are some suggestions to get you going.<\/p>\n

Tips for helping reduce some belly fat:<\/u><\/p>\n