Tape measure forming a heart shape around a waist, symbolizing heart health assessment.

Rethinking Weight: Are You Measuring Your Heart Health Correctly?

Nico Varela in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"New Korean research reveals the limitations of BMI and why waist-to-height ratio could be your secret weapon for a healthier heart."

Heart disease remains a leading cause of death, and obesity is a well-known risk factor. For years, we've relied on tools like Body Mass Index (BMI) to assess our weight and potential health risks. But what if these tools aren't telling the whole story, especially for certain populations?

A recent study published in the Korean Journal of Medical Science sheds light on this issue, suggesting that traditional anthropometric indices might need a re-evaluation. The study emphasizes how crucial it is to have right diagnosis of obesity. The current classification systems, especially those based solely on BMI, might not fully capture the nuances of body composition and its impact on heart health across different ethnicities.

This article dives into the findings of this study, exploring the limitations of BMI and waist circumference, and highlighting the potential benefits of using waist-to-height ratio as a more accurate indicator of coronary heart disease (CHD) risk. We'll break down the science in an easy-to-understand way, offering practical takeaways you can use to better assess and manage your heart health.

Is BMI Really Telling You the Whole Story?

Tape measure forming a heart shape around a waist, symbolizing heart health assessment.

The Korean study, utilizing data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES), examined over 21,000 adults to determine optimal cutoff points for anthropometric parameters in predicting high CHD risk. The researchers calculated the 10-year Framingham coronary heart disease risk score for each participant and then assessed the effectiveness of BMI, waist circumference, and waist-to-height ratio in predicting a CHD risk of 20% or higher.

The results revealed some significant insights:

BMI's Limitations: While BMI is a widely used tool, the study found it to be the least accurate predictor of CHD risk compared to waist circumference and waist-to-height ratio.
Waist Circumference Matters: Waist circumference showed a stronger correlation with CHD risk than BMI, highlighting the importance of abdominal obesity as a key indicator of heart health.
Waist-to-Height Ratio: The Winner: The waist-to-height ratio emerged as the most reliable predictor of CHD risk, suggesting it may be a more effective tool for identifying individuals at risk, especially in the Korean population.

These findings suggest that relying solely on BMI might be misleading, potentially underestimating the risk for individuals with a normal BMI but high abdominal fat. Measuring your waist-to-height ratio can provide a more personalized and accurate assessment of your heart health.

Take Control of Your Heart Health Today

The Korean study underscores the importance of moving beyond simple BMI calculations and embracing more nuanced measures like waist-to-height ratio. By understanding your individual risk factors and adopting a proactive approach to your health, you can significantly reduce your risk of coronary heart disease and live a longer, healthier life. Talk to your doctor about assessing your waist-to-height ratio and developing a personalized heart health plan that's right for you.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.3346/jkms.2016.31.1.61, Alternate LINK

Title: Optimal Cutoff Points Of Anthropometric Parameters To Identify High Coronary Heart Disease Risk In Korean Adults

Subject: General Medicine

Journal: Journal of Korean Medical Science

Publisher: Korean Academy of Medical Sciences

Authors: Sang Hyuck Kim, Hyunrim Choi, Chang Won Won, Byung-Sung Kim

Published: 2016-01-01

Everything You Need To Know

What is Body Mass Index (BMI) and what are its limitations?

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a calculation using a person's weight and height to assess body fat. The limitations of BMI stem from its inability to account for body composition differences, such as muscle mass versus fat distribution. The study highlighted that BMI was the least accurate predictor of Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) risk compared to waist circumference and waist-to-height ratio. This means that individuals with a normal BMI might still be at risk due to other factors like abdominal obesity, which BMI doesn't capture effectively.

Why is waist circumference important in assessing heart health?

Waist circumference is a measure of the circumference of your waist, indicating abdominal fat. This is important because abdominal obesity is a key indicator of heart health risk. The study found waist circumference to be a stronger predictor of CHD risk than BMI. This suggests that where you carry your weight is more critical than just how much you weigh when assessing heart health. High waist circumference is associated with increased risk, implying that reducing abdominal fat could lower the risk of heart disease.

What is the waist-to-height ratio, and why is it considered a reliable measure of heart health?

The waist-to-height ratio is calculated by dividing your waist circumference by your height. It emerged as the most reliable predictor of Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) risk in the Korean study. This suggests that for a given height, a higher waist measurement indicates a greater risk. Its significance lies in its ability to capture the distribution of fat, which is a better indicator of health risks compared to overall weight alone. This measure offers a more personalized assessment of heart health, especially for the Korean population.

What is Coronary Heart Disease (CHD), and why does this study matter?

Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) is a condition where the arteries that supply blood to the heart become narrowed or blocked. The study's findings are crucial because heart disease is a leading cause of death. BMI, waist circumference, and waist-to-height ratio were evaluated to predict the risk of CHD. The research suggests that relying on BMI alone might be misleading and underestimating risks. Using waist-to-height ratio can identify individuals at a higher risk, allowing for timely interventions to prevent or manage heart disease.

What is the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES), and why is it relevant to the study's findings?

The Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) is a survey that provided data for the study. The study utilized data from over 21,000 adults to determine optimal cutoff points for anthropometric parameters in predicting high CHD risk. The significance lies in the large sample size which makes the study's conclusions more reliable. The study assessed the effectiveness of BMI, waist circumference, and waist-to-height ratio in predicting a CHD risk of 20% or higher. This data helped researchers compare the effectiveness of different measures in predicting heart disease risk within the Korean population, highlighting the superior performance of the waist-to-height ratio.