| By :
Martin Hofschroer
A worrying number of people are unaware of the health dangers that come with a having a wide waistline, according to an investigation. Research by three leading British charities revealed that many people are ignorant of the fact that an extra layer of fat around the waist can lead to an increased risk of cancer, diabetes and heart disease. A study by Cancer Research UK, the British Heart Foundation (BHF) and Diabetes UK found that 97 per cent of people were unaware of the potential health risks of having a 'muffin top' or 'spare tyre'. Excess weight around the middle creates oestrogen and excess chemicals in the stomach, which put people at higher risk of killer diseases. Men are at risk of heart disease and Type 2 diabetes if their waist measures more than 94cm (37 inches) while women are in danger at more than 80cm (31.5 inches). Professor Jane Wardle, director of Cancer Research UK's Health Behaviour Research Centre, has urged people to make the appropriate lifestyle changes if they are carrying too much weight around the waist. She said: "Little changes that can become daily habits are the best, as they usually require less effort and can act as the building blocks of a much bigger lifestyle picture. "Waist size is likely to increase throughout life, so whatever your age, today is a good day to start improving your health." Dr Mike Knapton, associate medical director for the BHF, said that people should act fast to combat expanding waistlines in order to enjoy better health and a greater quality of life. "Wrapping a tape measure around your middle takes just a few seconds, but it could be your vital first step towards a healthier future," he advised. The study found that women were less likely than men to be concerned about the health consequences of a wide waistline and instead were more worried about how they looked and whether they could fit into their clothes. In addition, less than half of men and women had attempted to do more exercise in order to stop their waistline from increasing. A combination of a balanced diet, exercise and T5 slimming pills can help people who want to lose their muffin top. The charities are calling on the European Parliament to standardize food labelling, so that nutrition is better highlighted.
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