For Health, Size Does Matter

To find out how healthy you are, just reach for a tape measure.

Good: Big Head

A bigger head means bigger brains — and more protection against ‘Alzheimer’s Disease’. Dutch scientists found that the increased number of neurons in a larger head helps minimise the effects of tissue loss and damage from ageing.

In a study [unref] of more than 800 healthy people aged 50 to 81, those with bigger heads had increased intelligence and cognitive functioning and processed information faster. Those with smaller heads were slower at processing information and had an increased risk of ‘dementia’.

The average head size for women is 535 mm to 570 mm and for men it is 560 mm to 585 mm, measured around the widest part of the head just above the ears.

Good Thin Waist

A larger waist in both men and women increases the likelihood of heart and circulation problems. And a Dutch study [unref] has found that the bigger your waist, the more days you’ll take off sick.

Professor Mr.Mike Lean, of ‘The University of Glasgow’ has found that larger waists are linked with heart disease.

A waist measurement exceeding 810 mm for women and 940 mm for men puts you at greater risk of high ‘blood pressure’ and high ‘cholesterol’. A waist of more than 890 mm for a woman or 1 000 mm for a man is classed as high risk for ‘heart disease’.

Good: Thin Neck

A thick neck can indicate serious snoring or ‘sleep apnoea’ — where breathing temporarily stops — due to the reduced airway in the throat.

The average neck circumference for a man is 400 mm and for a woman 375 mm. Men with a neck larger than 430 mm and women with a neck larger than 405 mm are thought to be more at risk from ‘sleep apnoea’, which may lead to high ‘blood pressure’, ‘heart failure’, ‘heart attack’ or ‘stroke’.

Good Tall Height

Taller people are generally healthier and live longer.

Bristol University researchers examined nearly 500 sets of adult skeletons dating back to the 9th Century and found smaller people tended to die younger. Poor nutrition in childhood could limit growth and raise the risk of health problems.

Women under 1 525 mm are more at risk of childbirth complications. Men 1 700 mm or less are more prone to heart attacks than 1 800 mm tall men.

Good: Big Pelvis

(women only)
Pelvis size is crucial in childbirth as it has to be big enough for the baby to come out. Women with very narrow pelvises could need a ‘Caesarean Section’.

It’s hard to measure your pelvis accurately, but its size is generally in line with the rest of your body and frame size.

Lie down and measure the distance between the two hip bones that jut out. An average pelvis is 280 mm to 300 mm.

Good: Big Hips

(women only)
Small Hips: Slim-hipped women who put on weight around their stomach are more likely to die prematurely from a range of health problems, says a Swedish study [unref]. Another [unref] found they also face greater difficulties in conceiving.

In women of this shape, fat is broken down and re-formed to circulate in the blood, triggering problems such as heart disease. Fat around the bottom and thighs doesn’t break down in the same way.

Big Hips: Pear-shaped women build up fat around their thighs and hips, leading to lower risk of heart disease, high-blood pressure and diabetes. Women with a hip size of more than 1 030 mm suffered less diabetes, fewer heart attacks and less cardiovascular disease.

Women should divide their waist measurement by their hip measurement. 0.8 or more is an apple, 0.75 is a healthier pear and 0.70 is a very healthy pear.

Good: Broad Shoulders

(men only)
Narrow shoulders could indicate a greater risk of prostate cancer. Researchers in North Carolina, USA, [unref] found that men who go through puberty later have broader shoulders. Prostate cancer is thought to be influenced by hormone levels, so the narrower the shoulders — even by 10 mm or less — the higher the risk.

The average width across a man’s shoulders is 412 mm.

• ‘Take Good Care of Yourself’, Paul Johnson, The Mirror Newspaper, 2004-11-11