How your body shape affects your health
Apple or pear? No, this isn’t a quiz about fruit. People whose body shape is like an ‘apple’ – in other words, with most weight being carried around the midriff – may have more serious health problems in the long term. Scientists have known for a while that fat stored around the middle tends to equal more fatty acids in the blood. This in turn raises the risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
Two recent studies have shed further light on this issue. Authors of a paper in the International Journal of Obesity this year claimed that being a ‘pear shape’ – with weight held around the hips and lower body - actually protects people from these diseases. Seems this body shape traps the fats in a way that prevents them being deposited in the liver and causing long term harm.
And in another study, this time from scientists at the American Cancer Institute, it was found that people don’t have to be very overweight for the apple effect to be harmful. Being apple shaped is in itself bad for you, even if you are fairly slim.
Here’s how to work out what shape you are, according to the British Heart Foundation:
- Find the top of your hip bone and the bottom of your ribs.
- Breathe out naturally.
- Place the tape measure midway between these points and wrap it around your waist.
Check your measurement.
Men: Your health is at risk if you have a waist size of over 94cm [about 37 inches]. Your health is at high risk if you have a waist size of over 102cm [about 40 inches]
Women: Your health is at risk if you have a waist size of over 80cm [about 31.5 inches. Your health is at high risk if you have a waist size of over 88cm (about 34.5 inches).
For people of Asian origin, health is at high risk at over 90 cm [about 35.5 inches] for men and over 80cm [about 31.5 inches] for women.
The good news is that by eating healthily and increasing exercise, you can do much to shift that excess fat.. wherever it’s stored.
