Waistline may tell more about heart health than BMI

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A recent study published in the journal of the American College of Cardiology suggests that where fat is stored may matter more for heart health than overall body weight. Researchers found that excess abdominal fat was more closely linked to cardiovascular risk than body mass index (BMI), which does not distinguish between muscle, fat, or where fat is distributed. The findings add to growing evidence that measures of central obesity, such as waist circumference or waist-to-height ratio, may provide a clearer picture of a person’s risk for heart disease and related metabolic problems.

Source

Dardari, Z, Yao, Z, Zhang, J. et al. Risk Reclassification Beyond BMI by Waist Circumference and Waist-to-Hip Ratio Across 9 Cardiovascular Outcomes: Results From the Cross-Cohort Collaboration. JACC. 2026 Aug, 88 (6) 670–684. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2026.05.050

Additional Reading

https://abcnews.com/GMA/Wellness/belly-fat-predictor-heart-disease-risk-bmi-study/story?id=135593391

https://www.healthline.com/health-news/belly-fat-bmi-better-predictor-heart-disease

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/08/11/belly-fat-predicts-heart-attacks-better-bmi/