Excess belly fat linked to a higher risk of early death

A new study published in the BMJ found that excess fat around the belly is associated with a higher risk of early death from any cause, regardless of overall body fat. The study looked at 72 studies of more than 2.5 million participants who were followed from between 3 and 24 years. Individuals with so called ‘central fatness’ are at a higher risk of death than individuals with bigger hips and thighs. Study author Tauseef Ahmad Khan, at the University of Toronto, said “Belly fat is the fat that is stored around the organs in the abdomen and its excess is linked to high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and stroke. Therefore, having more belly fat can increase the risk of dying from these diseases.”