Medical U-turn on ‘apple-shape’ warnings: It isn’t especially dangerous to the heart

[snagglepuss]

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A consortium of 200 scientists from 17 countries carried out the study, funded by the Medical Research Council (MRC) and British Heart Foundation (BHF). The findings are published today in The Lancet medical journal online.

The authors, led by Professor John Danesh, from Cambridge University, wrote: 'Whether assessed singly or in combination, body-mass index, waist circumference, and waist-to-hip ratio do not improve prediction of first-onset cardiovascular disease when additional information exists on blood pressure, history of diabetes, and cholesterol measures. This finding applies to a wide range of circumstances and clinically relevant subgroups.'

Dr Mike Knapton, associate medical director at the BHF, said: 'Regardless of how you measure it, being obese is bad for your heart.

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'We should also remember there are other heart risk factors we need to think about too, such as blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes and smoking.'



Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1365207/Medical-U-turn-apple-shape-warnings-It-isn-t-especially-dangerous-heart.html#ixzz1GLvbCyrG

[somone]

1. One among many U-turns

"Design flaws"? Or was it a case of "Lies, damned lies, and statistics"?