If you have a "tuna belly" or love handles, you might be at risk for metabolic syndrome. According to the National Nutrition and Health Survey, over half of the women (52.9%) and nearly half of the men (47.2%) in Taiwan have excessive waist circumferences, meaning one in two people in Taiwan is overweight around the waist.
Excess abdominal fat can lead to inflammation in the body, affecting blood sugar, blood pressure, triglycerides, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, which can cause chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, coronary artery disease, and stroke. Researcher Zhong Renhua from the Institute of Population Health Sciences at the National Health Research Institutes used data from the "Taiwan Biobank" to find that without improvement, the risk of abnormal increases in blood sugar and blood pressure significantly rises after five years. However, reducing the waist circumference to a standard range can greatly improve these health indicators after five years.
Director of the National Health Administration, Wu Zhaojun, stated that the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in Taiwan is 40% among men and 30% among women. He suggests using the "Chronic Disease Risk Assessment Platform" to evaluate personal risk and actively control waist circumference to reduce the likelihood of developing chronic diseases.
Actively controlling waist circumference reduces the risk of chronic diseases. (Image provided by Heho Health)
Metabolic syndrome refers to abnormal metabolic indicators in blood sugar, blood pressure, blood lipids, and waist circumference, signaling a health risk. With refined diets and decreased physical activity, more people are developing metabolic syndrome. Currently, 6.75 million people over the age of 20 in Taiwan suffer from metabolic syndrome, significantly increasing their risk of cardiovascular diseases.
The National Health Administration recommends four ways to slim the waist. First, measure your waist regularly on an empty stomach in the morning and record the changes. Second, maintain a balanced diet, consuming six types of food daily. Third, engage in regular moderate-intensity exercise for at least 150 minutes per week. Fourth, avoid smoking and drinking, following a four-step smoking cessation process and abstaining from alcohol to promote health. By following these methods, individuals can effectively reduce waist circumference, lower the risk of metabolic syndrome, and maintain a healthy body.
