Waist Size and Life Expectancy

With Thanksgiving—aka the day of a thousand mashed potatoes—nearly here, now’s a particularly important time to remember to eat healthfully. In examining the results of a study that involved nearly 360,000 participants from nine countries in Europe, doctors have shown that with each increased inch in waist circumference, the likelihood of an early death rises. Interestingly, even people who had normal-range Body Mass Indexes but carried more weight around their middles showed the same increased risk as those whose BMIs were above average. Though vegetarians tend to be leaner than our non-veg counterparts, it’s still important to watch our waist’s weight.