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Muffin-top The researchers looked at the distance around the hips and waist to
measure the fat around the belly
People with coronary artery disease have an increased risk of death if they
have fat around the waist, according to researchers in the US.
The Mayo Clinic team, which analysed data from five studies involving 15,923
patients, found this even affected people with a normal Body Mass Index.
In the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, they said people with
waist fat should try to lose weight.
The British Heart Foundation said those with heart disease should be vigilant.
The researchers at the Mayo Clinic looked at the distance around the hips and
waist to measure the fat around the belly, and BMI which is a measure comparing
height and weight.
There was a 75% increased risk of death for patients with high levels of fat
around the waist compared with those with thin waists.
Even patients with a normal weight, a BMI between 20 and 25, had this increased
risk of death if they were carrying fat around the waist.
'Major risk'
Dr Thais Coutinho, from the Mayo Clinic, said: "BMI is just a measure of weight
in proportion to height. What seems to be more important is how the fat is
distributed on the body."
The researchers argue that doctors should take waist and hip measurements for
all patients with coronary artery disease in order to give patients advice on
how to reduce their risk.
Dr Mike Knapton, associate medical director at the British Heart Foundation,
said: "This study shows that abdominal obesity is the major risk factor for
patients with coronary heart disease even if they have a normal BMI and are a
healthy weight.
"The study only looked at patients with coronary heart disease, but it confirms
the idea that abdominal fat is 'toxic' and is associated with a number of other
risk factors for the disease such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and
diabetes.
"It can be confusing to hear that raised BMI is bad for you and then to hear
that waist circumference is the important measure, rather than BMI. I would
advise that your BMI should generally be between 20 and 25 and if you have
heart disease you need to be extra vigilant if you are carrying excess weight
on your waist."