Monday, 24 November 2008 07:31 by
McKennaA recent article in the New England Journal of Medicine followed 360,000 European men and women ages 25 to 70 for about 10 years. They measured waist size, waist-to-hip ratios, and body mass index (BMI). The thought is that someone overweight with a large waist would be at a higher risk for death than others. They found that even normal weight men and women with a bigger waist (men 40 inches, women 35 inches) have a higher death rate. For men it was twice as high as those with a waist less than 35 inches and for women it was 79% higher than those with a 28 inch waist. It is presumed that the fat around the internal organs is responsible for a number of diseases which can lead to premature death. However, don’t feel guilty and DO enjoy your Thanksgiving. After all, it’s not the food that brings us truly together, but being thankful for what we have and sharing that with those around us.