Restless Legs Syndrome Linked with Large Waistline
People who have abdominal obesity are more likely to have Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS), according to researchers from Harvard Medical School. In a recent study of more than 88,000 American adults, obese men and women were 42 percent more likely to have RLS than those who were of normal weight, and those with abdominal obesity were particularly prone to RLS.
Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a condition in which an unpleasant, restless sensation in the legs arises after prolonged inactivity such as sitting or lying down. The longer the period of rest, the greater the chance the symptoms will occur and the more severe they are likely to be. These symptoms are typically relieved by walking or movement of the legs such as jiggling, stretching or massaging legs to get relief. As soon as the movement stops however, the symptoms recur.
The exact uncomfortable sensation of RLS varies from person to person and can be described as burning, creeping, crawling, jittery, aching, or tugging, sensation inside the legs, feet, or arms. Ranging in severity from uncomfortable to painful, the symptoms of RLS typically arise in the evening, and dissipate in the early morning hours.
Obesity is medically defined as having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m2 or higher. Unhealthy waist circumference is usually defined as over 40 inches in men and over 35 inches in women. This is determined by placing a measuring tape snugly around the smallest area of your waist. Also, you can more precisely find out if you have abdominal obesity by calculating your waist to hip ratio.
Excess abdominal fat also appears to be linked with high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, migraine, stroke, diverticulitis and diverticular bleeding.
The best way to trim excess abdominal fat is with exercise. While any type of exercise is always helpful for those who can tolerate it, periodic, intense exercise is best for burning the fat around the midsection, according to researchers.
It’s very important to note, however, that anyone new to exercise should start off slow and gradually build the intensity, duration and frequency of workouts. Older adults and people with chronic health conditions should always talk to their doctors before starting an exercise program.
Read more:
- Get started on an exercise program
- Calculate your BMI
- Calculate your waist to hip ratio
Source: Dr. Xiang Gao, Harvard Medical School
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