An easy waist measurement may reveal more about longevity as you age than BMI | CNN

Among adults 65 and older, having a larger waist circumference was linked to a higher risk of early death, according to a new study. But being classified as overweight by body mass index, or BMI, was associated with a lower risk of early death. Obesity, we know, is associated with increased risks of many conditions, including heart disease and type 2 diabetes. But in older adults, the relationship between body weight and health may be more complicated than a number on the scale. How should older adults, and their doctors, make sense of the seemingly contradictory findings in this study, published on August 19 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society? BMI is B-A-D, a study suggests. Here’s a better way to measure weight To learn what this research means for healthy aging, I spoke with CNN wellness expert Dr. Leana Wen. Wen is an emergency physician and clinical associate professor at George Washington University. She previously served as Baltimore’s health commissioner. CNN: What did the study find about BMI, waist circumference and longevity in older adults? Dr. Leana Wen: The researchers analyzed data from nearly 7,000 adults ages 65 and older who were followed as par