Intro
Obesity is one of the most significant and visible drivers of poor metabolic health. Excess adiposity — particularly visceral fat stored around the organs — disrupts insulin signalling, raises blood pressure, alters blood lipids, and promotes chronic low-grade inflammation. These effects place obesity at the centre of cardiometabolic risk, linking it directly to Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and stroke.
This hub focuses on obesity as a condition: how it is measured, how fat distribution affects risk, and why metabolic syndrome matters as a clinical concept. For a broader view of metabolic health — including GLP-1 medications, muscle preservation, and lifestyle foundations — see the Metabolic Health & Weight-Loss Medicines Hub.
While BMI has long been the standard measure, newer research highlights the importance of waist circumference, fat distribution, and metabolic syndrome as stronger predictors of long-term outcomes. This hub brings together guides that explain the basics, how to measure your waist-to-hip ratio, and why metabolic syndrome matters.
Guides in This Hub
Related Guides
- Ozempic and GLP-1 Weight Loss Drugs
- GLP-1 Side Effects: Evidence vs Myth
- GLP-1 vs Bariatric Surgery
- GLP-1 Use in Non-Obese Adults
- Muscle Preservation on GLP-1 Medications
Why It Matters
Metabolic health isn’t only about weight. Waist size, fat distribution, and inflammatory markers tell a much richer story than BMI alone. By understanding these measures, patients and clinicians can better predict risk — and take action earlier.