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As you probably know, maintaining a healthy weight is an important step in reducing your risk for heart disease. But did you know the location of weight on your body can also make a difference to your heart health?

Most people can be described as having an apple shape (fat is mainly around the waist) or a pear shape (fat is mostly in the hips and thighs). If you have an apple shape, even if your total weight may be in the healthy range, you are at increased risk for developing high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease and stroke. If your waist measurement is over 35 inches (women) or 40 inches (men), you may have a much higher risk.

How to Measure Your Waist Circumference:

1. Stand with your feet together.
2. With a tape measure, measure at the narrowest part of the torso. Women should measure midway between the bottom of the ribs and the top of the hip bones. Men should measure at the navel.
3. Be sure the tape is snug, but does not squeeze your skin, and is parallel to the floor.

After measuring both your waist circumference and your BMI (click here to calculate), you can use this chart to determine your risk for heart disease. If you find that you are at a high risk, please speak with your doctor.

Risk of Disease
Body Mass Index (BMI)
 Waist
 Circumference (WC)		 Normal
 BMI = 18.5-24.9		 Overweight
 BMI = 25-29.9		 Obese
 BMI = >30
 <40 in (Men)
 <35 in (Women)		Least riskIncreased riskHigh risk
 >=40 in (Men)
 >=35 in (Women)		Increased riskHigh riskVery high risk


Health risk is classified according to Body Mass Index (BMI) and Waist Circumference (WC). Risk is relative to normal BMI and a waist circumference of <40 in for males and <35 in for females.




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Promise® SuperShots® and Spreads
Foods containing at least 0.4 g per serving of plant sterols, eaten twice a day with meals for a total daily intake of at least 0.8 g, as part of a low saturated fat, low trans fat and low cholesterol diet, may reduce the risk of heart disease. A serving of Promise® SuperShots® provides 2.0g plant sterols. A serving of Promise activ® Spreads provides 1.0g plant sterols. Promise activ® Spreads and SuperShots® can be a nutritious part of a healthy diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol.

Promise® Buttery Spreads
Promise® Buttery Spread can help maintain a healthy heart when eaten instead of butter or margarine, as part of a diet low in saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol. Promise® Buttery Spread contains 8g total fat and 1.5g saturated fat per serving. It can be used in the preparation of heart healthy recipes when substituted for butter or margarine.

The Promise® website is intended to provide general information for healthy people. If you have heart disease or related conditions, (such as diabetes, obesity or high blood pressure) or if you have questions about your heart health or your health in general, please see your doctor.
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