人们很关注体重，其实更应该关注腰围。欧洲科研人员对超过３５万人进行的一项大规模医学调查发现，一个人的腰围如果过大，不仅不美观，还暗藏健康隐患：大腰围的人过早死亡的风险最高可达到正常人的两倍。
来自伦敦帝国学院、德国人类营养学研究所等机构的科研人员在１２日出版的美国《新英格兰医学杂志》上报告说，他们对超过３５万欧洲人进行了平均９．７年的跟踪调查。这些人在调查开始时的年龄平均为５１．５岁。结果表明，一个人的身高体重指数（ＢＭＩ）即便处于正常范围内，但如果腰围过大，过早死亡的几率仍会大大高于常人。
研究人员说，这一研究结果提供的强有力证据证明，一个人即便整体算不上超重或肥胖，但如果腰部积聚过多脂肪，对健康也会造成严重威胁。他们建议，医生在进行体检时，除了测算ＢＭＩ，还应测量腰围和臀围，以便及早发现健康隐患，提醒人们注意腰围。
研究人员说，他们对相同ＢＭＩ指数的研究对象进行比较。结果发现，随着腰围上升，早亡的几率也会升高。具体来说，男性腰围超过１２０厘米、女性腰围超过１００厘米，其早亡的几率是腰围正常人（男性小于８０厘米、女性小于６５厘米）的约两倍。
另外，腰围和臀围之比也是一个衡量健康的重要指标。这个比值越低，说明与臀围相比，腰围相对要小。调查发现，腰臀围之比每上升０．１，男性的死亡率就上升３４％，女性则上升２４％。
研究人员指出，这项研究最重要的发现就是，影响个人过早死亡的因素不仅仅是体重，身体脂肪的分布同样关键。腰部囤积的脂肪组织的分泌物会诱发某些慢性病，尤其是心血管病和癌症。研究人员认为，久坐不动、饮食不良以及遗传因素是造成水桶腰的主要原因。
译文:
Waistline—A Barometer of the Health
People are quite concerned about the weight, in fact, they should be even more concerned about the waistline.A large-scale medical survey conducted by European researchers on more than 350,000 people found that if a person’s waistline is too large,it will not only create eyesores,but also hidden health problems—the risk of premature deaths for those with large waistline can be twice as that of the common people.
Scientific researchers from London Imperial College,the German Institute of Human Nutrition, and other research institutions reported in the US "New England Journal of Medicine" published on the 12th that they carried out an average of 9.7 years of follow-up investigation and these people were at the average age of 51.5 years old at the beginning of the investigation. The results show that even a person's height and body mass index (BMI)is in a normal condition,still,if the waistline is too large, the risk of premature death will be much higher than common people.
The researchers said the findings provided strong evidence that even a person is not overweight or obese,but if the waist accumulates excessive fat,itwill also pose a serious threat to health. They suggested that while doctors are carrying out medical examinations,they should measure the testers’ waistline and hip circumference besides BMI measurement for early detection of health problems in order to draw people’s attention to waist circumference.
Researchers said they carried out a comparative research on subjects with the same BMI index. The results showed that as the waist circumference increasing,the risk of premature deaths will rise. Specifically, men with the waist circumference over 120 cm and women with the waist circumference over 100cm,then their probability of premature deaths is twice as that of the common people with a normal waist circumference (less than 80 cm for men and less than 65 cm for women).
In addition,the ratio between waist circumference and hip circumference is also an important indicator to measure health. The lower the ratio, and the waist circumference is relatively small when compared to the hip circumference. The survey found that with the ratio between waist circumference and hip circumference increased by 0.1,then the death rate for men rise to 34% while that for women rise to 24%.
The researchers pointed out that the study found that the most important thing is that individual’s premature death is not just impacted by weight,fat distribution in the body is also important. The excretion produced by fatty tissue stored in the waist will cause certain chronic diseases, particularly cardiovascular disease and cancer. The researchers believe that the bucket-like waist is maily caused by the sedentary, unhealthy diet, as well as genetic factors.