Are you having trouble getting rid of that stubborn fat from around your belly or having difficulty putting on more weight to increase muscle mass? Women come in so many shapes and sizes and our body type can truly determine how we lose weight or offer clues about our general health as a whole.
Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford and Dr. Lydia C. Alexander, president of the Obesity Medicine Association, sat down for an in depth interview with TODAY on Jan. 30 to discuss some of the common body types women have and what it may determine about the way your body processes fat, impacting your weight. Alexander explained that hormones such as estrogen and genetics play a key role in how fat is distributed in the body. However, an unhealthy diet and lack of physical activity can disrupt these natural factors, negatively affecting metabolic health if we don’t nourish our bodies properly and give them what they need, Alexander noted.
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Here is what your body type maybe saying about your overall health and what you can do to make changes to live a healthier and longer life.
Apple Shape
Often referred to as the “apple,” “oval,” or “round” body type, this shape is characterized by a narrower upper body and hips with a wider waist. People with an apple body type tend to carry extra weight around the midsection.
While it’s possible to maintain a healthy weight with an apple-shaped body, Alexander cautions that women with this body type should be mindful of their health. Apple shapes often carry more visceral fat—fat that surrounds the organs in the abdomen, putting them at a higher risk for metabolic issues like heart disease, stroke, and high blood pressure. Fortunately, there are ways to monitor the amount of visceral fat you have. Measurements such as waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, and waist-to-height ratio can offer insights into fat distribution.
Stanford adds that your waist size is a key indicator of potential health risks. By measuring your waist in relation to your upper and lower body and observing where you tend to store fat, you can assess if you’re at a higher risk for health complications. To get a more accurate picture, measure your waist circumference at the level of your belly button. According to Stanford, waist circumference is a more reliable measure of obesity-related health risks than the Body Mass Index (BMI), which is based solely on height and weight.
“It doesn’t require any fancy equipment. Just use a simple tape measure that costs $2-3,” Stanford told TODAY. “Women should shoot for a waist circumference of under 35 inches and 40 inches for men.”
