In updated guidelines, the National Institute for Excellence in Health and Care (NICE) said adults with body mass index (BMI) under the age of 35 should measure their own waist-to-height ratio as part of broader obesity plans. That would mean, for example, a 5-foot, 4-inch woman with a waist circumference of 29 inches would have a healthy proportion, but a 32-inch waist would put her in an unhealthy range. Read more: Pandemic sheds “hard light” on growing obesity in young people Image: People should ensure that their waist is less than half their height to reduce the risk of possible health problems, warned an NHS guard. Photo file Meanwhile, a man who is 5 feet 10 inches would run increased health risks with an average of 36 inches. The new guidelines say that a healthy waist ratio of 0.4 to 0.49 does not indicate increased health risks. A ratio of 0.5 to 0.59 puts people at increased risk of health problems, while 0.6 or more puts them at higher risk of problems. The public can use an electronic calculator or ask a health professional to find out what a healthy ratio means to them. NICE says that by using a waist-to-height ratio, along with BMI, people can tell if they are carrying excess fat around their waist, which is known to increase their risk for type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease. disease. The new directive comes as a 2019 health survey in England estimated that 28% of adults were obese while 36% were overweight. The current cost of obesity in the UK is, 6.1 billion for the NHS and £ 27 billion for society at large. According to international guidelines, NICE also recommends the use of lower BMI limits for overweight and obesity for people from South Asia, Chinese, other Asian, Middle Eastern, Black African, or African-Caribbean backgrounds. Read more: BMI Contribution to Eating Disorders and Mental Health, Report Finds Blanket Body Mass Index Ratings for Diabetes Fail in People of Minority Ethnicity This is because these groups are more prone to carrying weight around their waist and have higher health risks with lower BMI. NICE Dr Paul Chrisp said: “The updated draft guideline offers people a simple and effective way to measure their weight so they can understand the factors that could affect their health and take action to address it. their. “Our committee found that a clear benefit of using the waist-to-height ratio is that people can easily measure it on their own, interpret the results and seek medical advice if they are at increased risk for their health.” Follow the Daily Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker Guideline member Rachel Batterham, consultant on obesity, diabetes and endocrinology, said: “Increased belly fat increases a person’s risk of developing a variety of life-threatening diseases, including type 2 diabetes and heart disease. “The waist-to-height ratio is a simple, easy-to-use measure that identifies people who are at increased health risk and will benefit from weight management support to improve their health.” The guidance plan is subject to consultation.
