Belly fat linked to increased health risks

Whether you call it a pot belly or a beer gut, belly fat, especially for those with an apple-shaped figure, could mean an increase risk to your health, experts say.

People with an apple-shaped figure, where the fat sits mostly around the waist, are known to have a higher risk of heart disease, diabetes and other obesity-related problems.

In a new study, the Centers for Disease Control finds that the average waist circumference of men and women in their 20s or older has increased more than one inch since 1999.

Doctors define abdominal obesity as having a waist circumference greater than 40.2 inches for men and 34.6 inches for women.

Dr. Bartolome Burguera, director of the obesity program at Cleveland Clinic, said the study shows that the fight against obesity is tougher than expected.

"We really need to be more aggressive taking care of people with obesity and we need to measure abdominal circumference because if not, we can miss the diagnosis," he said.

The study also noted that the number of adults who are abdominally obese has increased from 46 percent in 1999 to 54 percent.

Some of the reasons waistlines are expanding can be due to aging and problems sleeping along with the use of medications, such as antidepressants, and sitting for too long, according to CDC researchers.

Burguera said he is on board for taking out the measuring tape during an annual exam because the size can say a lot about his patient's health.

"It gives you an idea of your abdominal fat, the one that increases your risk of having diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol, and that's very important. We need to know that if that is increased, that increases your risk of having a heart attack," he said.