Women's Body Contouring

Individuals with a higher waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) or waist-to-thigh ratio (WTR) have a greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes. This is mainly due to the accumulation of visceral fat, and a smaller hip or thigh circumference can also explain the predictive value of WHR or WTR for type 2 diabetes. (1)

• Research has found that even women with a “normal weight” BMI below 25 face a higher risk if their waist circumference exceeds 25: Women with a waist circumference of 35 inches or more are three times more likely to die from heart disease than those with a waist circumference of less than 35 inches, even if they are considered to have a normal weight.
• The Shanghai Women’s Health Study found a similar relationship between abdominal obesity in normal weight women and mortality from all causes. (2)
• What makes abdominal fat a strong indicator of disease risk? Fat surrounding the liver and other abdominal organs, known as visceral fat, is metabolically active. It releases fatty acids, inflammatory factors, and hormones, ultimately leading to increased LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, blood sugar, and blood pressure. (3)

References

1. Snijder MB, Dekker JM, Visser M, Bouter LM, Stehouwer CD, Kostense PJ, Yudkin JS, Heine RJ, Nijpels G, Seidell JC. Associations of hip and thigh circumferences independent of waist circumference with the incidence of type 2 diabetes: the Hoorn Study. Am J Clin Nutr. 2003 May;77(5):1192-7. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/77.5.1192. PMID: 12716671.
2. Zhang X, Shu XO, Yang G, et al. Abdominal adiposity and mortality in Chinese women. Arch Intern Med. 2007;167:886-92.
3. Despres JP. Health consequences of visceral obesity. Ann Med. 2001;33:534-41.