This is the reason why a large waist can be deadly according to medical explanations

Illustration of why a large waist circumference can be fatal (freepik)

YOGYAKARTA - Many people are not aware of why a large waist circumference can be fatal, even though this condition is closely related to the risk of chronic diseases that develop without clear symptoms.

In fact, a distended stomach is not just a matter of appearance, but a signal of metabolic disorders that can trigger serious complications if not controlled early.

What is a Large Abdominal Circle?

A large abdominal circumference refers to the accumulation of fat in the abdominal area, especially visceral fat that surrounds the internal organs. However, this fat is different from fat in the thighs or hips because it is more metabolically active.

You need to know, different from body mass index (BMI), the waist circumference gives an overview of the location of fat in the body.

Well, this is the reason why someone with a normal BMI can still have a high health risk if their stomach size is excessive.

Why is a Large Belly Circle More Dangerous than Body Weight?

Research led by the Mayo Clinic shows that abdominal fat has a dangerous metabolic profile. Visceral fat triggers chronic inflammation and is associated with heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.

According to Dr. James Cerhan from the Mayo Clinic, BMI is not able to distinguish muscle mass and fat, and does not indicate the location of fat accumulation. This is a big gap in assessing health risks if you only rely on weight.

Why Can a Large Belly Ring Be Deadly?

Based on international studies involving more than 600,000 people, it was found that men with a waist circumference of 109cm or more have a 50 percent higher risk of death than men with a waist circumference below 88cm inches. The impact is equivalent to a decrease in life expectancy of about three years after the age of 40.

Then in women, the risk is even greater. A waist circumference of 93cm or more is associated with an increased risk of death by up to 80 percent, with a reduction in life expectancy of about five years after the age of 40.

More alarmingly, this risk increases linearly. Every two-inch increase in waist circumference increases the risk of death by about 7 percent in men and 9 percent in women.

Also read the article discussing 8 Habits that Make the Brain Young and Sharp until Old Age

Risk Remains Even Though BMI is Normal

Another important finding is that the increased risk of death occurs in all BMI categories, including in people with normal weight. So, a distended stomach is still dangerous even though the body looks not fat.

This is the reason why experts suggest that abdominal circumference measurements become an important part of health risk assessment, not just BMI alone.

Then according to Harvard University, abdominal fat or visceral fat is much more dangerous than fat in the hips and thighs. As the waist circumference increases, the risk of cardiovascular disease also increases.

Dr. Osama Hamdy from the Harvard-affiliated Joslin Diabetes Center explained that visceral fat plays a major role in metabolic disorders, high blood pressure, insulin resistance, and heart disease.

So, What Can Be Done?

The researchers emphasize that the main goal is to prevent high BMI as well as a large waist circumference. However, for those who already have a distended stomach, a decrease of a few inches through a healthy diet and regular exercise has already provided great benefits.

Small, consistent steps are much more effective than instant solutions. Controlling the waist is not about aesthetics, but an important investment for long-term health.

In addition to discussing why a large abdominal circumference can be fatal, follow other interesting articles at VOI, to get the latest news, don't forget to follow and monitor all of our social media accounts!