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MURRAY — A new study brings new light to two kinds of fruits: apples and pears.
This is not about their nutritional value, but their shape and how it relates to health.
Someone with a body shaped more like an apple, typically carries their weight around the midsection. Pear-shaped bodies carry their weight more in their hips, buttocks or legs. A recent study reveals where the body stores fat provides valuable insights into someone's health.
Dr. J. Brent Muhlestein, cardiologist and co-director of cardiovascular research at Intermountain Medical Center’s Heart Institute says, “We were a little bit surprised to find out that the apple shape is worse for heart function than the pear shape, as well as worse for risk of having a heart attack in the future.”
In fact, apple-shaped bodies have a higher risk of developing heart disease, they’re more prone to developing high blood pressure, diabetes, suffer heart attacks and strokes. Those with an apple-shaped body have more visceral fat, which is fat stored within the abdomen, usually around a number of important organs.
“You have an increased chance of having a reduction of your heart function overall because of the abdominal fat,” Muhlestein said.
Pear-shaped bodies have more subcutaneous fat, which is fat just under the skin.
When working to have a healthy waist circumference, men should be around 40 inches or less and women less than 35 inches.
When it comes to obesity, Muhlestein says no matter what your shape, “just continuing the fight to keep yourself as healthy as possible with exercise and diet and targeting your abdominal circumferences as low as you can and never giving up, I think it’s worth it and will help you live a long time. It’s best to be skinny no matter what, but sometimes it’s hard to do, but it’s worth the fight.” Jenniffer is a Special Projects Producer who heads up the Your Life Your Health, Zero Fatalities and High 5 initiatives. For questions, feedback or possible story ideas, please email jmichaelson@ksl.com.
