Fat around belly deadlier than being obese

People who carry fat around their bellies, even if they are thin, have a greater mortality risk than those who are overweight or obese but have normal fat distribution, according to a study.

Researchers examined data from a large group of Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) participants to compare the total and cardiovascular mortality risks with different combinations of body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratios (WHR).

They found that normal-weight adults with central obesity have the worst long-term survival rate compared with any group, regardless of BMI.

The data showed that a normal-weight person with central obesity had twice the mortality risk of participants who were overweight or obese according to BMI only.

The article was published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. (Source: bdnews24.com)