166. Keep your waistline less than half your height for good health
Dr. David Geier is an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist in Charleston, South Carolina and Charlotte, North Carolina. He helps athletes and active people feel and perform their best, regardless of age, injuries and medical history. He has been featured in major media publications and shows over 2,500 times throughout his career.
If you want to improve your health and reduce your risk of earlier death, you might measure your waistline. According to new guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence in the U.K., people should aim to cut their waistlines to less than half of their height. For example, for people 5 feet 10 inches tall, their waist measurement should be less than 35 inches. They believe that this measurement, which is simple for people to check, better reflects “central adiposity,” or the buildup of fat around their waist, which has been shown to be a significant risk factor for Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke.
Through the stories of a dozen athletes whose injuries and recovery advanced the field (including Joan Benoit, Michael Jordan, Brandi Chastain, and Tommy John), Dr. Geier explains how sports medicine makes sports safer for the pros, amateurs, student-athletes, and weekend warriors alike.
