Waist circumference is a subject more commonly discussed in female health context, but research during the last years has made it clear that it is an equally meaningful metric to evaluate male health. It is well-known that excessively large waists generally mean poor health management, an unhealthy lifestyle, or unfortunate genetics, which predispose men (and women) to a number of diseases and lower life expectancy. This is valid for both genders. In matters of health, there's no reason why waist size ought to be taken more seriously by one gender than the other.
Why it matters
The size of the belly gives plenty of clues about one's lifestyle, how the heart works, one's diet, and other things. Abdominal fat is a type of visceral fat involving the organs, such …show more content…
People who weight a third more than the ideal for their height have their life spans shortened by three years. Another survey, involving more than 350,000 people over 10 years, revealed that a 5-centimeter increase in waist size leads to a 17% higher risk of death for men and 13% for women. In short, the health risks of obesity are comparable to those of smoking.
Waist size and cancer - Prostate cancer is one of the most common in men, especially among those with larger waists. Men with waists measuring 94 cm or more are 13% more likely to suffer from a more aggressive type of prostate cancer than those with a 84 cm waist. The survey--also carried out by the University of Oxford--involved more than 140,000 men in eight European countries with a follow-up of 14 years. Tracking BMI and waist circumference metrics, researchers estimated that the risk of prostate cancer increases by 18% for every 4 inches of additional waist
Why it matters
The size of the belly gives plenty of clues about one's lifestyle, how the heart works, one's diet, and other things. Abdominal fat is a type of visceral fat involving the organs, such …show more content…
People who weight a third more than the ideal for their height have their life spans shortened by three years. Another survey, involving more than 350,000 people over 10 years, revealed that a 5-centimeter increase in waist size leads to a 17% higher risk of death for men and 13% for women. In short, the health risks of obesity are comparable to those of smoking.
Waist size and cancer - Prostate cancer is one of the most common in men, especially among those with larger waists. Men with waists measuring 94 cm or more are 13% more likely to suffer from a more aggressive type of prostate cancer than those with a 84 cm waist. The survey--also carried out by the University of Oxford--involved more than 140,000 men in eight European countries with a follow-up of 14 years. Tracking BMI and waist circumference metrics, researchers estimated that the risk of prostate cancer increases by 18% for every 4 inches of additional waist