The Waist-to-Height Ratio focuses specifically on waist circumference relative to height, to give a picture of how much fat is stored in the abdominal region.
This fat can be categorised into two groups:
- Subcutaneous fat: typically, in adults subcutaneous fat makes up around 85% of all body fat and sits just below the skin.
- Visceral fat: this lies deeper in the body, and surrounds your internal organs such as your stomach, liver and intestines. In healthy adults, it usually makes up the other 10-15% of all the fat in your body
Visceral fat is different from subcutaneous fat in several ways:
- Higher levels of harmful chemicals: it produces more substances that cause inflammation, which can damage your body over time
- Fewer helpful hormones: visceral fat also makes fewer hormones, such as leptin, that can help regulate your appetite and keep your body healthy
High levels of visceral fat can become a problem, due to the following:
- Decreased insulin sensitivity: which can lead to insulin resistance and increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes
- Increased fat breakdown: excess visceral fat breaks down more easily, releasing more fatty acids into the blood
By measuring abdominal fat, the Waist-to-Height Ratio can offer an indication of your risk of other serious conditions linked to obesity, such as heart disease. While the thresholds for risk levels are well identified, a general rule is to keep your waist circumference to less than half of your height, to help reduce the risk of potential health problems.
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If you are concerned about your heart health or want to understand more about how obesity can impact your heart, explore further articles below.