Effect on Blood Pressure

dietstokes

Hi guys,

I was hoping someone could help point me in the right direction. I'm not sure if I am just not researching properly or what, but I can't seem to find this answer. When we talk about the effect of our waist line on blood pressure and overall health, most of the time we are talking about the measurement around your natural waist. However, as this has never been an area I've carried weight in (very much a pear shape) that number has always been lower than the recommendation by a significant amount, even at my highest weight. What I would like to know is how does other abdominal fat impact blood pressure and heart health? Especially in women, I have noticed that many of us seem to have a slight lower pooch, and I'm curious what impact that lower abdominal fat may be having on heart health. Thanks everyone!

Branstin

Here is a good starting place:

http://www.health.harvard.edu/newsweek/Abdominal-fat-and-what-to-do-about-it.htm

dietstokes

Thanks! I will definitely check that out!

leggup

National criteria propose that a 40-inch waist in men and 35-inch waist in women predicted an increased risk for heart disease.

Men and women with a "spare tire" type fat accumulations are at the highest risk, of people who are clinically obese. However, all obesity increases the risk factor for hypertension. BMI is highly correlated with direct measures of body fat in most populations. Normal BMI is 20-25, overweight is 25-29.9 and obese is greater than 30. So, lower your BMI and you can lower your risk factor for hypertension and heart disease.

If your waist is smaller than 35 inches, you are not in the highest risk group. If your are overweight or obese, you are still at a higher risk for hypertension and heart disease than you would be if you were at a lower BMI. BMI is only applicable to a certain point, however. When your body fat drops past a certain point (athletes, elderly, etc), it is no longer an accurate indicator of hypertension risk.