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We know that obesity can raise the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and other health conditions. And, for years, BMI has been one of the most common ways to assess weight-related health risks. But for older adults, BMI may not provide the full picture. In a new study, an increased waist size was associated with an increased risk of premature death among adults 65 and older. Waist size is a simple way to estimate the amount of visceral fat a person may have.
The study included almost 7,000 adults over 65 from a large, nationally representative group. Researchers followed them for nearly 14 years and looked at whether changes in BMI and waist size were linked with their risk of dying.
Researchers found that men with waists over 40 inches and women that waists measured over 35 inches had over a 20% higher risk of early death than those below these thresholds. Importantly, the higher risk remained even after accounting for BMI.
BMI has its limitations and should not be used as the only measure of health because it cannot tell how much body fat a person has or where that fat is stored. Waist size can be an indication of excess fat around vital organs such as the liver, kidneys, heart and pancreas. In fact, the study found that men considered overweight by BMI had over a 40% decreased risk of death from any cause, while men with class I or II obesity had over a 50% lower risk.
Aging often brings a loss of muscle mass and bone density, which can lower BMI. This means that a higher BMI in older adults may sometimes reflect more muscle and bone rather than excess body fat. Likewise, people with chronic illnesses may lose weight unintentionally, resulting in a lower BMI that could partly explain the study’s results.
It is important to pay attention to changes over time. A growing waistline may signal an increase in abdominal fat, even when your weight and BMI remain relatively stable.
To view the original scientific study click below:
Time-Varying Body Mass Index, Waist Circumference and All-Cause Mortality in US Adults Aged 65 or Older
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