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When it comes to assessing your risk for heart disease, you need to think not only about how much you weigh, but where you carry any extra pounds. That’s because people who have what’s considered a healthy weight based on their body mass index (BMI) can still have an increased risk for heart disease if they have extra fat around their midsection, according to guidelines from the American Heart Association (AHA) published in April 2021 in
This means that even if you’re not overweight, your next physical should involve a tape measure around your waist in addition to a check of your height and weight, according to the AHA.