Your waist-to-height ratio may predict heart disease better than BMI

A new study suggests that body shape could reveal heart disease risk more accurately than BMI. Researchers found that waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) may offer clearer insights into future health problems. Even those with a normal BMI could face hidden dangers based on their waist size relative to height.

The study highlighted that people with larger waists compared to their height were more likely to develop calcium buildup in their heart arteries. This was true even if their BMI fell within a healthy range. For every moderate increase in waist size relative to height, the risk of calcium deposits rose by around 18%.

Participants with a WHtR of 0.5 or higher showed an 18% chance of having calcium in their arteries. In contrast, only 10% of those with a WHtR below 0.5 had the same issue. The findings suggest that abdominal fat, measured by WHtR, may harm heart health beyond its effects on blood pressure and blood sugar.

Unlike BMI or waist circumference alone, WHtR provided a stronger link to heart disease risk. The study also identified individuals with a BMI under 30 who still faced future heart risks due to their WHtR. This measurement could help doctors spot high-risk patients whose BMI might otherwise seem reassuring.

WHtR may become a useful tool for assessing heart disease risk in clinical settings. The study's results point to its potential for identifying hidden dangers in patients with seemingly healthy BMIs. Further research could determine whether this method gains wider adoption in medical practice.