Concern is directed not only
at how much fat a person has but also where that fat
is located on the body. The pattern of body fat
distribution tends to differ in men and women.
Women typically collect fat in their hips and
buttocks, giving their figures a
"pear"
shape. Men, on the other hand, usually collect fat
around the belly, giving them more of an
"apple"
shape. (This is not a hard
and fast rule, some men are pear-shaped and some
women become apple-shaped, particularly after
menopause).
Apple-shaped people whose fat is
concentrated mostly in the abdomen are more likely
to develop many of the health problems associated
with obesity. They are at increased health risk
because of their fat distribution. While obesity
of any kind is a health risk- yes, it is better to
be a pear than an apple.
In order to sort the types of
fruit, doctors have developed a simple way to
determine whether someone is an apple or a pear.
The measurement is called waist-to-hip ratio. To
find out a person's waist-to-hip ratio, measure
the waist at its narrowest point, and then measure
the hips at the widest point. Divide the waist
measurement by the hip measurement. For example, a
woman with a 35-inch waist and 46-inch hips would
have a waist-to-hip ratio of 0.76 (35 divided by
46 = 0.76). Women with waist-to-hip ratios of more
than 0.8 and men with waist-to-hip ratios of more
than 1.0 are "apples."
Another rough way of estimating the amount of a
person's abdominal fat is by measuring the waist
circumference. Men with waist circumference of 40
inches or greater and women with waist
circumference of 35 inches or greater are
considered to have increased health risks related
to obesity.
