Researchers from the University of Oxford have published the results of the largest study of its kind, which included more than 2.5 million men. The conclusion is that an increase in waist circumference is directly linked to a higher risk of premature death, particularly from prostate cancer.
As Dr Sarah Kayat pointed out, a 4-inch increase in waist circumference increases the risk of dying from prostate cancer by 7%. The disease affects 52,000 men in the UK each year, making the study's findings particularly significant.
This is the so-called visceral fat, which accumulates around internal organs and literally "envelops" them. Such fat disrupts metabolism and provokes inflammatory processes, which can later lead to the development of cancer.
"Men are more prone to the 'apple' body shape - where fat is deposited on the abdomen. This is especially dangerous," Kayat noted.
However, women are also at risk. According to another study by the University of Glasgow, which lasted 8 years and included 40,000 participants, women with high visceral fat stores have twice the risk of developing uterine cancer.
High levels of visceral fat are also associated with an increased risk of the following diseases:
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gallbladder cancer
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liver cancer
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Colorectal cancer (colon and rectum)
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breast cancer
A simple test that Dr. Kayat recommends is that your waist circumference should be less than half your height. For example, if you are 170 cm tall, your waist circumference should not exceed 85 cm.
Despite the common underestimation of visceral fat as a "merely aesthetic problem," scientific evidence suggests a serious health threat. Doctors advise watching your waistline not only for your figure — but also for a long life.
