NEW YORK: A new study suggests that waist size and the distribution of body fat may provide a clearer indication of heart health than body weight or body mass index (BMI) alone.
Researchers from the Cross Cohort Collaboration analysed data from nearly 260,000 people who took part in 15 long-term medical studies and were followed for almost two decades.
The findings, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, showed that some people classified as normal weight or overweight based on BMI had significant amounts of abdominal fat.
Researchers found that people with larger waist circumferences or higher waist-to-hip ratios generally had a 15% to 50% greater risk of various cardiovascular conditions and death.
BMI may not tell the full story
Experts say BMI measures weight in relation to height but does not indicate where fat is stored in the body.
Deep abdominal fat, which surrounds internal organs, can be particularly harmful and has been associated with inflammation, insulin resistance and blood-vessel damage.
A number on the scale is treated as the summary of a body. In 260,861 adults, the tape measure disagreed with it in more than a third of cases.
BMI is height and weight and nothing else. It cannot tell muscle from fat, and it cannot tell fat under the skin from fat packed around… pic.twitter.com/jbNbV8rovK
— William A. Wallace, Ph.D. (@WilliamWallace) August 22, 2026
The researchers said assessing body-fat distribution could therefore provide a more complete picture of cardiovascular risk than relying on BMI alone.
Study examined multiple heart conditions
The study looked at several cardiovascular outcomes, including heart attacks, strokes, heart failure, atrial fibrillation and deaths related to cardiovascular disease.
The findings indicate that people with a seemingly healthy BMI may still face elevated heart risks if they have higher levels of abdominal fat.
Researchers note study limitations
The researchers acknowledged several limitations, including incomplete information on participants’ physical activity, diet and genetic factors linked to obesity.
In addition, waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratios were measured only once, meaning the study could not determine how changes in abdominal fat over time might influence cardiovascular risk.
Common medicines may increase risk of heat-related illness
Earlier doctors and health organisations warned that some of the medicines most commonly prescribed for depression, anxiety, ADHD, high blood pressure and heart conditions can increase vulnerability to extreme heat,
As climate change drives more frequent and intense heatwaves, medical experts are drawing greater attention to the interaction between high temperatures and medicines that can affect the body’s ability to cool itself.
The risk can be particularly significant for older people and those taking several medicines at the same time.
ALSO READ: Common Medicines May Increase Risk Of Heat-Related Illness, Doctors Warn
The human body normally responds to high temperatures by increasing sweating, widening blood vessels near the skin and reducing activity to prevent a dangerous rise in core temperature.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) can increase sweating in some people. Excessive sweating during extreme heat can accelerate the loss of water and electrolytes, increasing the risk of dehydration.
Older antidepressants known as tricyclics can have the opposite effect. Their anticholinergic properties can reduce sweating, making it harder for the body to release heat.
Antipsychotic medicines can also interfere with the body’s normal temperature-regulation mechanisms and have been associated in studies with a greater risk of severe outcomes during heatwaves.
Stimulant medicines used to treat ADHD can increase heat production and constrict blood vessels. They may also reduce people’s awareness of physical exertion, potentially making it harder to recognise when the body is overheating.
