Not BMI, the size of the waist is an important marker in men’s prediction of cancer in men
Researchers have found that the waist perimeter, which measures fat around the abdomen, is a better indicator of cancer risk – especially for men.
Researchers are now suggesting that the waist perimeter is a strong prophet of cancer risk in men compared to body mass index.
The study conducted by scientists from Cock University, Sweden was published in the journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Why the size of the waist matters more in men
Traditionally, BMI has been used to assess the risks of obesity related to obesity. However, researchers found that the circumference of the waist, which measures fat around the abdomen, is a better indicator of cancer risk – especially for men.
The study analyzed the health data of 3,39,190 people in Sweden in about four decades.
A large waist size (about 11 cm or 4.3 inches more) in men was associated with 25% higher risk of obesity development.
In comparison, the increase in BMI was associated with 19% higher risk in men.
Even after adjusting to BMI, a high waist circumference still predicted more cancer risk in men, suggesting stomach fat is particularly harmful.
In women, both the waist perimeter and BMI were equally associated with the risk of cancer, both saw an increase of 13% for both.
Why this difference between men and women?
Researchers believe that men store more fat around the stomach (intestinal fat), while women accumulate more fat under the skin and in peripheral areas.
The fats of the intestine are associated with inflammation and insulin resistance, which increase the risk of both cancer.
The study suggests that measuring the size of the waist with BMI can improve cancer risk predictions, especially for men. For women, adding the hip perimeter in assessment can give better insight to fat distribution and cancer risk.
Researchers concluded, “Our study gives evidence that the waist perimeter is a strong risk factor in men compared to BMI for obesity related cancer, but not in women. The waist circumference provides information about additional risk mentioned by BMI in men,” researchers concluded.
The waist size is not as strong as a risk factor for women for women because it is for men how the body fat and hormone affect the risk of cancer can be caused by the difference.
This can also happen because the size of the waist and BMI measure body fat differently in men and women.
