![]() This can cause people to lose trust in healthcare professionals and can delay diagnosis, treatment, and care. Using objects to describe a person’s body type creates the opportunity for others to make general assumptions about someone’s health and body.įor instance, people with higher body weight and body fat tend to experience weight bias in healthcare settings, meaning that healthcare professionals may focus only on their weight, regardless of their reason for seeking medical care. Though using fruit metaphors to describe body types may be convenient, it’s not ideal. Ultimately, most research suggests that fat distribution - not necessarily body weight or BMI - can affect health outcomes. Other negative health outcomes - such as kidney disease, lung and colorectal cancers, and even cognitive decline - are linked with central obesity (the presence of excess fat in the midsection). The review found that for every 10-cm (3.9-inch) increase in waist circumference, there was a 3% and 4% increased risk of heart disease for women and men, respectively. They also had higher insulin resistance, blood lipid levels, and heart rates, suggesting worsened heart and metabolic health.įinally, a 2021 review of 31 studies found that excess weight around the midsection is significantly associated with greater risk of heart disease. (Remember: The BMI has limitations as a predictor of health, especially for People of Color.)Īlso, a small study including 49 males found that despite having the same BMI, body weight, and body fat percentage, men with more android fat had lower endothelial function, which leads to poorer blood flow in the body. Interestingly, having a pear body type had a protective effect against heart disease, reducing risk by up to 40%.Īnother study found that apple-shaped bodies were significantly associated with an increased risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes, regardless of body mass index (BMI). In one 2019 study involving 2,683 postmenopausal women, those who had an apple body type - more fat in the midsection and less fat in the legs - were three times more likely to have heart disease than those with a pear body type. One 2020 review of 72 studies found that people with greater fat distribution in the stomach area (an apple shape) had a significantly higher risk of death from all causes than those with pear-shaped bodies. That said, certain body shapes may be at an increased risk of negative health outcomes, according to numerous research studies. First things first: The way a person’s body looks does not automatically tell you whether they are healthy.
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