Scientific Background
Why waist circumference is a key health indicator and what the research says about it.
Note: the following information is general health knowledge for context. It makes no statement about the effect of the Balance Alligator, which is not a medical device.
Waist circumference and health risks
The World Health Organization (WHO) has defined clear waist-circumference thresholds that indicate an increased health risk:
- Women: waist circumference above 88 cm
- Men: waist circumference above 102 cm
People who exceed these values have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome and metabolic disorders. (Source: WHO Technical Report Series 894)
Further scientific studies
Harvard Nurses' Health Study (44,636 women, 16 years)
Abdominal obesity showed a strong association with increased mortality, independent of BMI. Even normal-weight women with an increased waist circumference had significantly higher cardiovascular mortality.
UK Biobank study (diabetes & cardiovascular disease)
- 55% of diabetics were obese
- Overweight people with diabetes: 71% higher risk of cardiovascular death
- Obese people with diabetes: 96% higher risk of cardiovascular death
Conclusion: obesity and diabetes are additively associated with increased cardiovascular risk.
Meta-analysis: abdominal adiposity and mortality (15,923 cardiac patients)
- Normal-weight people with abdominal fat had the highest mortality risk
- Obese people without abdominal fat had the lowest mortality risk
- Critical threshold: 78 cm waist circumference
This study shows that waist circumference can be a more important indicator of health risks than body weight alone.
NIDDK/NIH: health risks of excess weight
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases documents risks including: type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease & stroke, 13 different types of cancer, sleep apnoea, osteoarthritis & gout, fatty liver disease, kidney disease and mental health problems.
Obesity and cancer
- Obesity is linked to at least 13 types of cancer
- Women with severe obesity have a 7-fold risk of uterine cancer
- Weight loss can reduce cancer risk by up to 32%
Legal notice
The Balance Alligator is a performance compression belt designed to support body shaping and physical wellbeing. It is not a medical device and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. The information presented here is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. If you have health questions, please consult a qualified medical professional.