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The Risks of Having a Large WaistWhat is the problem and what is known about it so far?For adults, measuring their waist can often predict if they are more likely to get insulin resistance (when the body can't handle glucose in the blood). The larger their waist is, the more likely they are to get insulin resistance. But it isn't known whether a large waist size is a warning sign in young people. Why did the researchers do this particular study?Researchers wanted to see if a large waist predicts if children and teenagers are more likely to get insulin resistance. Who was studied?The study included 56 black and 89 white kids who were between 8 and 17 years old. All of the kids were healthy, without major illness or disease. How was the study done?Researchers measured the height and weight of each kid. Then, the researchers calculated each kid's body mass index (a measure of weight in comparison to height). The kids also had blood tests to see how well their bodies handled glucose. They also took other tests that measured body fat and told where it was located on their bodies. What did the researchers find?Waist size was better than body mass index at predicting which kids were more likely to get insulin resistance. What were the limitations of the study?There are differences in how people measure waist size. Some people may get the wrong measurements. What are the implications of the study?A large waist is a warning sign of future health problems. A person's waist size should be recorded as an important sign of health. FOR MORE INFORMATIONAll About Insulin Resistance (PDF) Waist Size Predicts Insulin Problem |
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