Body Fat Index (BMI)
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Other Risk Factors
Besides being overweight or obese, there are additional risk factors to consider.
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- High LDL-cholesterol ("bad" cholesterol)
- Low HDL-cholesterol ("good" cholesterol)
- High triglycerides
- High blood glucose (sugar)
- Family history of premature heart disease
- Physical inactivity
- Cigarette smoking
A 2005 study published in Lancet found that a waist-to-hip ratio is a better predictor of heart attack than the BMI. A waist-to-hip ratio (waist measurement divided by hip measurement) below 0.085 for women or 0.09 for men is average. Anything above that increases the risk for heart disease.