People who have fat around their stomachs are twice as likely to die from sudden death, according to a US study published in the British Medical Journal.
Brioche, belly and beer belly, be careful. According to a study published by the British Medical Journal, the accumulation of abdominal fat increases the risk of sudden death.
Death within minutes
According to a definition from 1958 by cardiologist Jean Lenègre, “The label of sudden death should be reserved for subjects who go about their usual occupations, and succumb absolutely unexpectedly, outside any external action and within a few minutes, that is to say outside of any observable syndrome ”. The origin is cardiac, but it is distinguished from a heart attack, because of its systematically fatal and unpredictable nature.
Until now, the risk of sudden death from obesity has been measured using the body mass index (BMI). But researchers at the University of Minnesota have shown that in fact, abdominal fat level (calculated by the waist-to-hip ratio) is a much better indicator of the risk of sudden death.
Belly fat, more dangerous than others
To do this, they studied the bellies of nearly 15,000 people aged 45 to 64, whom they followed regularly for 12 years. During this period, 253 died from sudden cardiac death. Analysis of their data (weight, height, waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio) allowed them to conclude that those who have fat around the belly are twice as likely to die from sudden death as those who have a smaller size.
The results of this study remain to be moderated. Indeed, the researchers do not specify from what waist-hip ratio this risk is confirmed. In addition, the results appear to be more related to association rather than causation.
But they have a certain consistency. The authors of the study explain that abdominal fat is more dangerous than any other, because it surrounds the vital organs (stomach, viscera…). This is not the case with the fat around the thighs and hips.
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