Obesity (Weight Loss) (cont.)
Does it matter where body fat is located? (Is it worse to be an 'apple' or a
'pear'?)
Concern is directed not only at how much fat a person has but also where that
fat is located on the body. The pattern of body fat distribution tends to differ
in men and women.
Women typically collect fat in their hips and buttocks, giving their figures
a "pear" shape. Men, on the other hand, usually collect fat around the
belly, giving them more of an "apple" shape. (This is not a hard and
fast rule; some men are pear-shaped and some women become apple-shaped,
particularly after menopause).
Apple-shaped people whose fat is concentrated mostly in the abdomen are more
likely to develop many of the health problems associated with obesity. They are
at increased health risk because of their fat distribution. While obesity of any
kind is a health risk, it is better to be a pear than an apple.
In order to sort the types of fruit, doctors have developed a simple way to
determine whether someone is an apple or a pear. The measurement is called
waist-to-hip ratio. To find out a person's waist-to-hip ratio:
- Measure the
waist at its narrowest point, and then measure the hips at the widest point.
- Divide the waist measurement by the hip measurement.
- For example, a woman with a
35-inch waist and 46-inch hips would have a waist-to-hip ratio of 0.76 (35
divided by 46 = 0.76).
- Women with waist-to-hip ratios of more than 0.8 and men
with waist-to-hip ratios of more than 1.0 are "apples."
Another rough way of estimating the amount of a person's abdominal fat is
by measuring the waist circumference. Men with a waist circumference of 40 inches
or greater and women with a waist circumference of 35 inches or greater are
considered to have increased health risks related to obesity.
Next: What can be done about obesity? »
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