Comments on: Loathe Handles: Belly Fat Increases Early Death Risk http://www.marksdailyapple.com/belly-fat-increases-early-death-risk/ Serving up health and fitness insights (daily, of course) with a side of irreverence. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 11:51:54 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.1 hourly 1 By: Why Restricting Your Caloric Intake Could Be The Fountain Of Youth | GO HEALTHY GO FIT http://www.marksdailyapple.com/belly-fat-increases-early-death-risk/#comment-300778 Why Restricting Your Caloric Intake Could Be The Fountain Of Youth | GO HEALTHY GO FIT Sun, 22 Feb 2009 23:43:02 +0000 http://www.marksdailyapple.com/?p=1993#comment-300778 [...] calories you eat, the less you weigh, right? Ok, so what happens when you weigh less? According to Mark’s Daily Apple: A study in the New England Journal of Medicine suggests the extra belly fat isn’t just an [...] [...] calories you eat, the less you weigh, right? Ok, so what happens when you weigh less? According to Mark’s Daily Apple: A study in the New England Journal of Medicine suggests the extra belly fat isn’t just an [...]

]]> By: Half-@$$ing it « No Magic Pill http://www.marksdailyapple.com/belly-fat-increases-early-death-risk/#comment-253992 Half-@$$ing it « No Magic Pill Fri, 09 Jan 2009 21:48:09 +0000 http://www.marksdailyapple.com/?p=1993#comment-253992 [...] pills, President-elect as fitness role model, more evidence for a link between waist size and death risk, time change can put you at risk (aside from being unnecessary and completely [...] [...] pills, President-elect as fitness role model, more evidence for a link between waist size and death risk, time change can put you at risk (aside from being unnecessary and completely [...]

]]> By: New Biomarker for Heart Failure | Mark's Daily Apple http://www.marksdailyapple.com/belly-fat-increases-early-death-risk/#comment-214821 New Biomarker for Heart Failure | Mark's Daily Apple Sat, 22 Nov 2008 14:25:27 +0000 http://www.marksdailyapple.com/?p=1993#comment-214821 [...] Loathe Handles: Belly Fat Increases Early Death Risk [...] [...] Loathe Handles: Belly Fat Increases Early Death Risk [...]

]]> By: Mark Levin http://www.marksdailyapple.com/belly-fat-increases-early-death-risk/#comment-212490 Mark Levin Tue, 18 Nov 2008 20:56:08 +0000 http://www.marksdailyapple.com/?p=1993#comment-212490 It's imporant to remember that this is an epidemiological (i.e. association) study. It does not PROVE that abdominal obesity causes early death only that it is associated with it. It doesn't address, for example, whether decreasing waist size reduces risk. It is useful from a scientific point of view as a hypothesis generating tool. Belly fat is thought to be pro inflammatory. Are there particular chemicals that are disease causing? Can they be reduced by weight loss, diet or drugs, etc. Of course, from a personal point of view it does seem to show that a 'pot belly' is a health risk, but there are plenty of other studies that show that. I just wouldn't get too caught up in 31.5 inches if you're a man or 25.5 if a woman. These are somewhat arbitrary numbers subject to measurement errors, statistical manipulation, etc. It’s imporant to remember that this is an epidemiological (i.e. association) study. It does not PROVE that abdominal obesity causes early death only that it is associated with it. It doesn’t address, for example, whether decreasing waist size reduces risk. It is useful from a scientific point of view as a hypothesis generating tool. Belly fat is thought to be pro inflammatory. Are there particular chemicals that are disease causing? Can they be reduced by weight loss, diet or drugs, etc. Of course, from a personal point of view it does seem to show that a ‘pot belly’ is a health risk, but there are plenty of other studies that show that.

I just wouldn’t get too caught up in 31.5 inches if you’re a man or 25.5 if a woman. These are somewhat arbitrary numbers subject to measurement errors, statistical manipulation, etc.

]]> By: Dr Dan http://www.marksdailyapple.com/belly-fat-increases-early-death-risk/#comment-210872 Dr Dan Mon, 17 Nov 2008 08:50:12 +0000 http://www.marksdailyapple.com/?p=1993#comment-210872 The fact that abdominal fat may be more dangerous, ie toxic, makes me desperate to get that toxic fat book. Its on its way from america I cant wait. The fact that abdominal fat may be more dangerous, ie toxic, makes me desperate to get that toxic fat book. Its on its way from america I cant wait.

]]> By: Monday, November 17, 2008 « CrossFit Rx http://www.marksdailyapple.com/belly-fat-increases-early-death-risk/#comment-210494 Monday, November 17, 2008 « CrossFit Rx Mon, 17 Nov 2008 01:47:16 +0000 http://www.marksdailyapple.com/?p=1993#comment-210494 [...] more on this study, please read the article on Mark’s Daily Apple, “Loathe Handles: Belly Fat Increases Early Death Risk,” as well as the results from the study, available [HERE]. Published [...] [...] more on this study, please read the article on Mark’s Daily Apple, “Loathe Handles: Belly Fat Increases Early Death Risk,” as well as the results from the study, available [HERE]. Published [...]

]]> By: Benjamin Teal http://www.marksdailyapple.com/belly-fat-increases-early-death-risk/#comment-210467 Benjamin Teal Mon, 17 Nov 2008 01:13:40 +0000 http://www.marksdailyapple.com/?p=1993#comment-210467 Just 2 quick points: The first thing you have to consider is that article itself is not advocate a target of 31.5 inch waist for men, but only suggests that those people have half the mortality risk of those with much larger waists. It does imply that you should strive to have as small a waist as possible in order to minimize that mortality risk. For some people, having a waist less than 34 inches may not be feasible, for example. Also, there is no indication in the type of relationship between waist size an mortality risk. Is it linear or exponential? For example, is the difference in mortality risk between 31.5 inches and 34.5 inches the same as the difference in risk between 34.5 and 37.5? Both of these points are important when setting goals for waist size. What we do know is that given the same BMI, the one with a larger waist (and presumably a higher percentage of body fat) has a higher mortality risk. All in all, the smaller the waist the better, just do not worry if it is not possible (or realistic) for you get your waist to the sizes indicated in study. Just 2 quick points:

The first thing you have to consider is that article itself is not advocate a target of 31.5 inch waist for men, but only suggests that those people have half the mortality risk of those with much larger waists. It does imply that you should strive to have as small a waist as possible in order to minimize that mortality risk. For some people, having a waist less than 34 inches may not be feasible, for example.

Also, there is no indication in the type of relationship between waist size an mortality risk. Is it linear or exponential? For example, is the difference in mortality risk between 31.5 inches and 34.5 inches the same as the difference in risk between 34.5 and 37.5?

Both of these points are important when setting goals for waist size.

What we do know is that given the same BMI, the one with a larger waist (and presumably a higher percentage of body fat) has a higher mortality risk.

All in all, the smaller the waist the better, just do not worry if it is not possible (or realistic) for you get your waist to the sizes indicated in study.

]]> By: Tom Parker - Free Fitness Tips http://www.marksdailyapple.com/belly-fat-increases-early-death-risk/#comment-210409 Tom Parker - Free Fitness Tips Mon, 17 Nov 2008 00:04:57 +0000 http://www.marksdailyapple.com/?p=1993#comment-210409 Wow. I was sure there would be a correlation but every 2 inches increasing the risk of death by 17% in men and 13% in women? Even letting yourself go just slightly in the waistline department could be quite serious. Wow. I was sure there would be a correlation but every 2 inches increasing the risk of death by 17% in men and 13% in women? Even letting yourself go just slightly in the waistline department could be quite serious.

]]> By: Son of Grok http://www.marksdailyapple.com/belly-fat-increases-early-death-risk/#comment-210367 Son of Grok Sun, 16 Nov 2008 22:49:58 +0000 http://www.marksdailyapple.com/?p=1993#comment-210367 I would agree that 31.5 seems awfully thin. It has a lot to do with height though too. You would expect a taller person to have a larger waist measurement strictly on bone structure alone. Perhaps they should have gone off of a belly fat % instead of a waist measurement. The SoG I would agree that 31.5 seems awfully thin. It has a lot to do with height though too. You would expect a taller person to have a larger waist measurement strictly on bone structure alone. Perhaps they should have gone off of a belly fat % instead of a waist measurement.

The SoG

]]> By: Katie http://www.marksdailyapple.com/belly-fat-increases-early-death-risk/#comment-210276 Katie Sun, 16 Nov 2008 21:31:34 +0000 http://www.marksdailyapple.com/?p=1993#comment-210276 I'd be interested in knowing where they came up with these boundary weights, if they are really significant as numbers or if they are merely illustrating the trend that as waist circumference drops, risk of death tends to as well. I’d be interested in knowing where they came up with these boundary weights, if they are really significant as numbers or if they are merely illustrating the trend that as waist circumference drops, risk of death tends to as well.

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