Growing Problem

April 2012

Image CaptionAs waistlines expand, many men grow concerned with carving out new belt holes and buying ever-larger pants instead of losing weight. However, bigger bellies can seriously impact overall health as well.

Ochsner clinical dietician Eve Harmeyer said health risks for men multiply exponentially as waist sizes reach 40 inches.

“When the belly is over 40 inches around, men are at risk for heart disease and stroke, and there are certain types of cancers that they can be at risk for,” Harmeyer said.  “Colon and esophageal cancer risks go up, and cancers of the kidney,  gallbladder, stomach and pancreas are also possibilities according to the National Cancer Institute.”

Type two diabetes and insulin resistance syndrome are also common in men with waist sizes greater than 40 inches, as are high triglycerides, metabolic syndrome and sleep apnea, Harmeyer said.

“Age doesn’t really play a part other than that as people age, we lose muscle,” she said.  “As muscle is lost, we don’t burn as many calories and that muscle loss helps put us at risk for picking up weight if we don’t exercise and eat a healthy diet.”

While belly fat has traditionally become a problem later in life for most men, Hermeyer said an increasing number of teenagers and children are beginning to become overweight and obese.

“We may have seen this more in middle aged men in the past, but we’re starting to see large girth in younger people now, and we’re starting to see more diabetes in younger people too,” she said.

Harmeyer said men of all ages should exercise at least 30 minutes a day and avoid beverages that are sweetened with sugar and high fructose corn syrup, and should eat fruit instead of drinking juice.

“Eat more plants and whole grains to get more fiber in the diet,” Harmeyer said.  “Everyone should also get ample sleep and exercise.  This is something men need to pay attention to everyday.”

To learn more about men’s health at Ochsner, click here.

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