Definition: Abdominal obesity refers to the presence of excess fat in the abdominal area. Those who are "apple-shaped" tend to store excess body fat around their stomach and abdomen.
Abdominal obesity is typically measured by waist circumference; a measurement of 40 inches or more in men and 35 inches or more in women indicates abdominal obesity.
Excess fat in the abdomen is considered an independent predictor of risk factors and morbidity, meaning the likelihood for developing diseases is higher for those with abdominal obesity.
Also Known As: belly fat, central obesity, central adiposity, intra-abdominal fat
Examples: Abdominal obesity raises the risk of some health problems, including diabetes and hypertension.
