Belly Fat May Raise Odds of Early Death for Thin Heart Patients, Mayo Clinic Study

For people with heart disease, waist size may better predict risk of early death than overall weight, a new study finds. Researchers found that normal-weight heart patients who have belly fat have worse survival odds than obese people whose excess pounds are concentrated in their thighs and buttocks. The findings suggest that heart doctors should consider weight distribution rather than simply body mass index (BMI) -- a measurement based on height and weight -- when assessing a patient's risk, the study authors say.