Health Risks

Access Your Health Risk

• High triglycerides 
• High blood glucose (sugar) 
• Family history of premature heart disease 
• Physical inactivity 
• Cigarette smoking 

Access Your Health Risk

The following conditions could put you into a greater risk of heart disease and other conditions:

• High blood pressure (hypertension) 
• High LDL cholesterol (“bad” cholesterol) 
• Low HDL cholesterol (“good” cholesterol) 
• High triglycerides
• High blood glucose (sugar) 
• Family history of premature heart disease 
• Physical inactivity 
• Cigarette smoking 

BMI – Body Mass Index

BMI is a measurement that is being used to assess weight-related risk and can be calculated from your weight and height.

BMI equals your body (in kilograms) divided by your height squared (in meters). 

BMI calculators are easy to use (all you need is your height and weight) and are readily available online. However, BMI is not always accurate in every individual. It overestimates body fat in people with a lot of muscle mass and tends to underestimate it in elderly people (who often lose muscle mass). [2] 

BMI – Body Mass Index

BMI is a measurement that is being used to assess weight-related risk and can be calculated from your weight and height.

BMI equals your body (in kilograms) divided by your height squared (in meters). 

BMI calculators are easy to use (all you need is your height and weight) and are readily available online. However, BMI is not always accurate in every individual. It overestimates body fat in people with a lot of muscle mass and tends to underestimate it in elderly people (who often lose muscle mass). [2] 

Waist Circumference and Waist-to-Hip Ratio 

The waist-to-hip ratio is another way of assessing abdominal obesity, and studies have confirmed that this measure correlates with cardiovascular risk. [3] 

To calculate your waist-to-hip ratio, measure both your waist and hip circumferences, then divide the waist measurement by the hip measurement.

• In women, the ratio should be 0.8 or less.  
• In men, it should be 1.0 or less.  

What is the importance of waist circumference? 

The idea of using waist circumference as a risk predictor stems from the fact that abdominal obesity (accumulation of fatty tissue in the belly) is generally thought to be “worse” than accumulating fat elsewhere (such as the buttocks or thighs).  

This is because abdominal obesity correlates with an increased risk for not only cardiovascular disease, but also metabolic syndrome, hypertension, and diabetes. 

Studies have shown that a waist circumference of 40 inches or more (102 cm) in men, and of 35 inches or more (88 cm) in women, is associated with elevated cardiovascular risk. [4] 

Waist Circumference and Waist-to-Hip Ratio 

The waist-to-hip ratio is another way of assessing abdominal obesity, and studies have confirmed that this measure correlates with cardiovascular risk. [3] 

To calculate your waist-to-hip ratio, measure both your waist and hip circumferences, then divide the waist measurement by the hip measurement.

• In women, the ratio should be 0.8 or less.  
• In men, it should be 1.0 or less.  

What is the importance of waist circumference? 

The idea of using waist circumference as a risk predictor stems from the fact that abdominal obesity (accumulation of fatty tissue in the belly) is generally thought to be “worse” than accumulating fat elsewhere (such as the buttocks or thighs).  

This is because abdominal obesity correlates with an increased risk for not only cardiovascular disease, but also metabolic syndrome, hypertension, and diabetes. 

Studies have shown that a waist circumference of 40 inches or more (102 cm) in men, and of 35 inches or more (88 cm) in women, is associated with elevated cardiovascular risk. [4]