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HEALTH RISKS RESULTING FROM LARGER WAISTLINES

Researchers continue to find evidence that a larger waistline is a predictor of poor health – especially poor heart health.  However, it’s shocking how much a bigger waistline can affect your entire body’s health, literally from head to toe.  If there’s one part of your body to focus on keeping in fighting shape, it’s your midsection.  The following is a roundup of recent findings, all of which indicate the health risks associated with bigger waistlines:

 Heart Failure

A bigger waistline is a setup for heart failure in midlife and beyond.  Even when body mass index (BMI) is normal, a bigger waist can lead to poor heart health.  The study showed that men with a normal BMI of 25 had a 16% increased risk of developing heart failure from a 3.94-inch increase in waist size.  The study included 43,487 men aged 45 to 79.  Add more body weight and the risk increases to 18%.  Those are health risks associated with bigger waistlines we can live without.

Restless Leg Syndrome

Restless Leg Syndrome affects approximately 5% to 10% of the U.S. population with symptoms ranging from consistent discomfort to major problems sleeping. A study published in the April 7, 2009, print issue of Neurology, revealed that people with bigger waistlines are more likely to experience restless leg syndrome.  Lack of sleep in turn leads to poor performance and an overall decrease in one’s quality of life.  Some research also suggests that short sleep duration leads to more weight gain, further increasing the cascade of health risks associated with bigger waistlines.

Periodontal Disease

Another health risks associated with bigger waistlines are periodontal disease, which involves inflammation of the tissue around your teeth.  Investigators from the Harvard School of Public health and the University of Puerto Rico report that men with waist circumference of 40 inches, compared to men with waist sizes less than 40 inches, had a 19% increased risk of periodontal disease.  Periodontal disease is associated with increased risk of poor health from systemic inflammation that also increases heart disease and diabetes risk – and possibly cancer – again showing the link between health risks and bigger waists.

Decreased Lung Function

A bigger waistline leads to decreased lung function, regardless of smoking history, gender, BMI, or other complicating factors.

Migraine Headaches

Bigger waistlines also mean more chance of suffering from migraines, which becomes more common depending on the way your body fat is distributed.  Bigger waist size, even without obesity, increased the risk of severe headache or migraine in a study of more than 22,000.

Can the American South go from beingthe worst region nutritionally to the best? One determined native son and food entrepreneur, Wiley Mullins firmly believes that it can!

His goal is to reverse the escalating trends of overweight and obesity that has plagued the south.  Recent press has termed the southern region of the U.S. The Diabetes Belt, The Stroke Belt and The Obesity Belt.  According to Mullins, “it’s all about changing the culture.” The southern heritage is steeped in wonderful traditions including a deliciously rich food culture that has evolved through the years.

For almost two decades, Mullins has carried the Wellness torch to those who love the decadence of southern fare. A phrase that he mentions daily to whomever will listen is “Lets make Wellness a Southern Tradition. The Supermarket’s Fresh Produce Department is an all natural wellness center at our finger tips.”

Recently released data from The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) confirms that more than 66% of the adult residents of the southern states are either obese or overweight.  Mississippi tops the chart with slightly over 70% of its adult residents falling into this category.  Although, these levels are alarming, they are by no means limited to just the south.  According to the same CDC report, the state of Colorado is considered to be the healthiest state, yet, almost 56% of Colorado’s adult population is either overweight or obese, confirming that there isn’t much “wiggle” room between the best and the worst states nutritionally.  Mullins is convinced that the answer to stemming this weight epidemic is by consuming more fresh produce daily.  Numerous studies confirm that the more fresh produce consumed lessens the likelihood of getting Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, obesity and certain types of cancer.

To draw instant attention to the severity of the health and lifestyle issues surrounding the huge American overweight and obesity problem, he has developed a 10-year initiative called The Healthy Renaissance (THR).  Through targeted local, regional and national efforts THR’s key programmatic elements center on prevention and lifestyle choices.  SOS (Saving Our South), a THR signature program launches this fall in the southern U.S. with the clear intention of introducing clear and tasty ways to enjoy traditional southern culinary favorites without consuming unnecessary fats, calories or cholesterol.