Your waistline could reveal a hidden heart risk your BMI misses, major study finds

A study examined how visceral fat—fat stored around abdominal organs—relates to heart disease risk independently of body mass index. Researchers found that visceral fat increases inflammation, insulin resistance, and arterial damage. BMI, which measures weight relative to height, does not distinguish between visceral fat and other body fat types. The findings suggest waist measurement or imaging tests may provide additional information about cardiovascular risk beyond BMI calculations.

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