Distribution of Body Fat

The location of body fat has been found to be an important factor in health risks for adults.

Excess body fat that settles in the stomach and around the waist, so called the "apple" body build, is a greater health risk than excess weight carried in the hips and thighs and buttocks. For women, a waist-to-hip ratio of 0.8 or greater indicates that your shape is that of an apple. For men, a waist-to-hip ratio of 1.0 or greater is indicative of an apple, meaning your fat stores are carried around your middle. If you carry your excess body fat below the waist, you are known as a "pear".

Extra weight in the abdomen is linked to:

• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Heart Disease
• Certain types of cancer
   

Are you an Apple or a Pear?

• Stand relaxed. Measure your waist at it's smallest point. NOTE: Don't
  pull in your stomach.

• Next, measure your hips at the largest part of your buttocks and hips.

• Last but not least, divide your waist measurement by your hip measurement.
  If the answer is close to 1.0 or greater, consider yourself to be an apple. If
  the number is considerably less than 1.0, you're a pear.

For a healthy weight, your waist-to-hip ratio should be less than 0.8 for women and below 0.95 for men.

As we all know, weight is partially influenced by genes. From what we know now, the pattern of this fat distribution is also a hereditary tendency. However, that's not the whole story nor an excuse. Smoking and drinking too much alcohol also seems to increase fat in the abdominal area, thereby increasing the risk of health related weight problems.