A large 10-year study found that half of all fatal heart disease cases, and a quarter of all non-fatal cases are linked to being overweight and having a high body mass index (BMI) or large waist.
Body mass index and waist circumference are well known risk factors for cardiovascular disease, but the researchers said their work showed BMI and waist size could actually help predict your risk of dying from, or developing heart disease.
Overweight people are defined as having a BMI of between 25 and 30, and obese people of 30 or more, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). BMI is calculated by dividing your weight in kilograms by your height in meters squared. Waist circumference measurements in men were defined as between 94 and 101.9 cm for overweight and more than 102 cm for obese. In women these measurements were 80-87.9 cm for overweight and more than 88 cm for obese.
