WHtR: The New Determinant of Health Risk

[elcee 3,343]

This article just came through on some newsletter that I am subscribed to.Apparently waist to height ratio is more important than BMI when determining health risk.

Whtr: The New Determinant Of Health Risk | LIVESTRONG.COM

After reading this I'm stuffed! There is no hope, as a natural apple I may as well give up now.

I am 5' (153cm) and have a waist measurement of 32"(81cm).According to the calculator I found Waist-to-Height Ratio

this gives me a ratio of 53.3. This puts me in the overweight - close to seriously overweight category.

So what is the problem you may ask? Well my BMI is 22 - well within the normal range. When I saw my Dr last week I was told categorically that I must NOT lose any more weight. She says I can't afford to as I will be too skinny. She was probably looking at my legs - I was wearing leggings (Aus size 6).

So what do I do.How do you lose weight from 1 area and not the rest. As far as I know there still isn't any effective way of spot reducing. When you lose you lose all over and have no say in where it comes off.

Maybe the only solution is Lipo or a tummy tuck! LOL.:smile2:

[BetsyB 9]

It's just one measure. And like BMI, it's not accurate for all. It has limitations, just like any tool. All you can do is work to be as healthy as you can be in the body you have.

My weight is evenly distributed--but as you can see from my stats, the numbers say I am obese. (Not morbidly any more, but still...)

According to this measurement, I am overweight. Not even seriously overweight. It pleases me--but it does not fool me. My WtHR has always been "good." And that doesn't amount to a hill of Beans if I'm hauling an extra 80 pounds around! My risks may be lower than someone my weight with a different fat distribution--and I'm glad for that. But it doesn't change the fact that the extra weight (which you no longer have!) poses a risk.

Take it with a big hunk of salt.