The American minister called on Ukrainians to regularly measure their waist size
Acting Minister of Health of Ukraine Ulyana Suprun explained why it is so important for Ukrainians to measure their waist circumference, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
She wrote about this on her Facebook page.
“It may sound funny, but it is important to understand why this service is important. Of course, we are all accustomed to paying attention to the number shown on the scale. This is important, but due to individual body characteristics, such as the amount of muscle mass in the body, your overall weight is not always an accurate indicator. For this purpose, the body mass index is also used, which is the ratio of weight and height. It is a standard indicator with a clear distribution, which shows which weight category you belong to,” Suprun wrote.
However, she says it also has its drawbacks. For example, the index shows the total amount of fat in the body, without taking into account how fat tissue is distributed. And although excess fat is already a negative indicator, the important thing is the fact where exactly it accumulates.
“The most dangerous is abdominal fat, which accumulates at the waist level, in the abdominal cavity. It can surround vital organs such as the intestines, pancreas and liver and impair their function. The greater the proportion of such fat in the body, the higher the risks of cardiovascular diseases, stroke, diabetes, metabolic syndrome and even some types of cancer,” she emphasized. O. head of the Ministry of Health.
In particular, measuring waist circumference, she says, is the most accurate indicator for identifying the amount of abdominal fat.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a waist circumference of 94 cm for men and 80 cm for women means there is an increased risk of developing serious diseases. 102 cm and 88 cm, respectively, are extremely high risk.
In addition, there is another coefficient that can be used to determine the increased health risks of being overweight. This is the ratio of waist circumference to hip circumference.
To get this coefficient, you need to measure these indicators in centimeters and divide them among themselves: waist (cm) / hips (cm) = coefficient. Health risks increase dramatically if this ratio is above 0,95 for men and 0,85 for women.
“Remember that excess weight is always a health problem. Excess pounds increase the risk of many dangerous diseases. Watch your weight, be active and eat well. These are the most effective tools for maintaining a healthy weight,” summed up Suprun.
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