Your waistline could reveal a hidden heart risk your BMI misses, major study finds

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2026 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by Factset. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Legal Statement. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by LSEG. Dr. Mary Claire Haver breaks down how the menopause shift rewires metabolism, raising abdominal fat and inflammation, and reveals why tracking strength and fat distribution beats relying on the number on the scale. A person's waist size may reveal more about their heart health than the number on the scale, according to new research. A study found that waist measurements can identify potential cardiovascular risks that may be missed when doctors rely on body mass index (BMI) alone. Researchers from the Cross-Cohort Collaboration analyzed data from nearly 260,000 adults enrolled in 15 long-term health studies, following participants for about 20 years. A study found that waist measurements can identify potential cardiovascular risks that may be missed when doctors rely on BMI. (iStock) BMI IS WRONG WAY TO MEASURE OBESITY, RESEARCHERS SAY — HERE’S WHAT