February 2012
Do you have “belly fat”?
Look at yourself in the mirror, do you have belly fat? If you have belly fat,
you carry most of your excess weight around your waist. If you have belly fat,
even if you are normal weight or only slightly overweight, you are
at risk for hear t disease and diabetes.
Use a tape measure to get your
waist-to-hip ratio. Measure around your waist at
its smallest point, which is usually
just above your belly button (navel).
Measure around your hips at their
widest part.
To get your ratio, divide your waist
measure by your hip measure.
Waist ÷ Hip =
Ratio
You are at increased risk for hear t disease or diabetes if:
You are a man and your ratio is greater than 0.9
Example: If your waist is 42 inches and your hips are 38
inches, (42 ÷ 38 = 1.1). Your ratio is more than 0.9 so
you are at risk.
You are a woman and your ratio is greater than .85
Example: If your waist is 35 inches and your hips are 30
inches, (35 ÷ 30 = 1.16). Your ratio is more than .85.
You are also at risk.
Losing weight through healthy
eating and exercising regularly
are the best ways to decrease your belly
fat and decrease your risk for heart
disease and diabetes.
For more information, go to:
www.mayoclinic.com
See the Nurses of
Wise Health Decisions®
to talk about what to do to improve your
weight and decrease your belly fat.
1-866-231-3435
©Clinical Solutions, LLC Wise Health Decisions® All rights reserved