From the Journals

Waist Size Plus BMI Predicts Mortality

A major long-term study of postmenopausal women found that waist circumference, when assessed alongside BMI, improved mortality risk prediction compared with BMI alone.

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A prospective cohort study involving 139,213 U.S. postmenopausal women aged 50 to 79 demonstrated that integrating waist circumference (WC) measurements with body mass index (BMI) enhances long-term mortality risk prediction. Conducted as part of the Women's Health Initiative and spanning up to 24 years, the research revealed that women with large WC had a higher mortality risk, regardless of BMI category. The findings advocate for routine WC measurements in clinical practice, particularly among obese women, to improve obesity-related mortality risk assessment.

Original Source(s)

Waist Size Plus BMI Predicts Mortality

A major long-term study of postmenopausal women found that waist circumference, when assessed alongside BMI, improved mortality risk prediction compared with BMI alone.

  • by Stanley Gajete

  • July 8, 2025

  • 4 min

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