EmbeddingGemma 2: an open, lightweight multimodal embedding model
deepmind.google·6d ago
AI Engineering
Hacker News·Aug 15·5 min read
Abdominal Fat Predicts Heart Disease Risk Better Than BMI
TL;DR
A study reveals that waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) are more accurate predictors of heart disease risk than body mass index (BMI). This finding suggests that relying solely on BMI may misclassify individuals' cardiovascular risk.
✦ Why It Matters
Consider measuring waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio for a more accurate assessment of heart disease risk.
Key Takeaways
- Incorporate waist circumference and WHR in cardiovascular risk assessments.
- Recognize that BMI alone may misclassify heart disease risk.
- Monitor central adiposity in patients with normal or overweight BMI.
- Advocate for updated guidelines in cardiovascular health evaluations.
Full Summary
Body mass index (BMI) has long been used to assess obesity and related heart disease risks, but it fails to account for fat distribution. A study published in JACC analyzed data from over 260,000 individuals over 20 years, finding that waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) provide better risk assessments.
Among those classified as normal weight by BMI, 5% had high WC and 18% had high WHR, correlating with a 15% to 50% increased risk of cardiovascular events. The study emphasizes the importance of considering central adiposity, which includes visceral fat around the abdomen, in evaluating heart disease risk.
Researchers advocate for incorporating WC and WHR into routine cardiovascular assessments to improve risk classification and prevention strategies.