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Excess Belly Fat Could Reveal More About the Lifespan of Older Adults than BMI
Researchers found a 24% higher early-death risk for older adults with large waists, even after accounting for body mass index.
- Researchers published a study in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society linking larger waist circumference to a higher risk of early death among adults 65 and older.
- Though BMI is useful for large populations, it often fails to distinguish between muscle mass and body fat, potentially offering a misleading picture of health as people age.
- Men with waist circumference greater than 40 inches and women with one greater than 35 inches faced a 24% higher early death risk, even after accounting for BMI.
- Leana Wen, a health expert and former Baltimore commissioner, warns that weight loss in seniors can sometimes signal muscle loss, making them more vulnerable despite lower BMI numbers.
- Measuring waist circumference alongside BMI allows for better estimation of visceral fat, providing a simple, accessible way for older adults to track health markers, experts now advocate.
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Excess belly fat could reveal more about the lifespan of older adults than BMI
A new study is suggesting that BMI may not be the correct measure of health for some seniors.The study, which was published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, found that a larger waist circumference correlates with a higher risk of an early death, but those being overweight based on BMI have a lower risk.RELATED STORY | Why some people classified as obese may have lower heart risks than expectedAdditional studies found that centr…
New study shows that waist measurement is associated with a higher chance of early death in adults over 65 years of age
·São Paulo, Brazil
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Leaning Left1Leaning Right0Center14Last UpdatedBias Distribution93% Center
Bias Distribution
- 93% of the sources are Center
93% Center
C 93%
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