Stomach Fat is Deadly!

People with large waists are twice as likely to die prematurely as those who have slim waists.

That's according to a recent study by the Department of Public Health in London which concluded that the size of your waist is more important in determining your health than your weight.

People with waists that measure more than 120 cm (47.2 in) for men and 100 cm (39.4 in) for women were found to have 50 % more risk of dying prematurely than those with slim waists (less than 80 cm for men and 65 cm for women) regardless of the person's weight or BMI.

The extra weight around the stomach is more dangerous than that found on legs or hips. Each 5 cm increase in waist size raises the risk of premature death by 17% for men and 13% for women.

The problem is especially prevalent in men, who mainly have apple shapes, while most women tend to have pear shapes (more fat on the hips).

Exercise and clean dieting can go a long way in losing excess stomach fat and helping people return to good health.