Waist-to-hip ratio is a crucial measurement for predicting the risk of coronary artery disease because it provides insight into the distribution of body fat. This ratio compares the circumference of the waist with that of the hips, allowing for an assessment of central adiposity or visceral fat, which is the type of fat located around the organs in the abdominal area.
Research has shown that an increased waist-to-hip ratio is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases, including coronary artery disease. This is because visceral fat is metabolically active and can contribute to inflammatory processes and metabolic dysregulation that increase the likelihood of developing heart-related issues.
In contrast, while body mass index (BMI), neck circumference, and body fat percentage provide some information about overall body composition, they do not specifically indicate the distribution of fat in the body as effectively as waist-to-hip ratio. For instance, BMI does not differentiate between muscle and fat, and while it can indicate general obesity, it may not accurately reflect an individual's risk related to fat storage patterns. Similarly, neck circumference and body fat percentage do not specifically focus on the critical area of fat accumulation in the abdomen, which is a key factor in predicting heart disease risk.