Scientific evidence suggests that the way people store fat affects their risk for disease. Some individuals tend to store fat in the abdominal area (�apple� shape). Other individuals tend to store fat mainly around the hips and thighs (gluteal femoral fat or �pear� shape).
Obese individuals with a lot of abdominal fat are at higher risk for coronary heart disease, congestive heart failure, hypertension, Type II diabetes, and strokes than are obese people with similar amounts of total body fat stored primarily in the hips and thighs. Among individuals with a lot of abdominal fat, those whose fat deposits are around internal organs (visceral fat) have an even greater risk for disease than those whose abdominal fat is mainly beneath the skin (subcutaneous fat).
Because of the higher risk for disease individuals who tend to store a lot of fat in the abdominal area, as contrasted with the hips and thighs, a waist-to-hip ratio test was designed by a panel of scientists appointed by the National Academy of science and the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Counsel for the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services. The waist-to-hip ratio differentiates the �apples� form the �pears.� Most men are apples, and most women are pears. The panel recommends that men need to lose weight if the ratio is 1.0 or higher. Women need to lose weight if the ratio is 0.85 or higher. More conservative estimates indicate that the risk starts to increase when the ratio exceeds 0.95 for men and 0.80 for women, respectively.
Note:
Please keep in mind that you should never rely on one assessment when evaluating you body composition. There are many variables that influence your results (i.e., degree of error in measurement, precision of reliability of the measurements, etc.). Using a variety of techniques and implementing the process of scientific method will help you learn about human physiology and concepts of a healthier life style.
Task
1. Determine your waist-to-hip ratio using a cloth measuring tape.
2. Determine where fat is stored on your body:
Abdominal area: �apple� shape
Hip and thighs: gluteal femoral fat or �pear� shape
3. Determine if your fat deposits are:
Around internal organs: visceral fat
Mainly beneath the skin: subcutaneous fat
4. Determine your disease risk according to waist-to-hip ratio
Materials
Standard measuring tape: units in inches (in.)
Process
1. Record your waist measurement at the point of smallest circumference:
2. Record your hip measurement at the point of greatest circumference:
3. Calculate the waist-to-hip ratio by dividing your waist measurement by your hip measurement:
MALE
FEMALE
DISEASE RISK
0.95
0.80
Very Low
0.96 - 0.99
0.81 - 0.84
Low
1.00
0.85
High
Analysis
Collect the waist-to-hip ratios of your class and use that information to support a possible answer to the question proposed below.
SEX
AGE
WAIST
HIP
WAIST-TO-HIP RATIO
DISEASE RISK
What do you want to know?
1. Develop a minimum of two (2) questions that you would like to ask your peers based on this activity.
2. Analyze the waist-to-hip ratios of the sample population represented by your class and develop a theory from comparing the disease risk of the males to the disease risk of females.
Critical Thinking
1. Are you an �apple� or a �pear�? Explain
2. Refer to the chart to determine your disease risk according to waist-to-hip ratio. Based on your results describe any changes you would make in your present life style to created a higher personal standard of good health.
