A new study has provided some additional incentives for those who are trying to lose weight with herbal supplements or through another means.
Research conducted by an international team of scientists has linked a large waist circumference with a high risk of premature death.
The findings, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, suggest that love handles may be a better predictor for early death than a high body mass index.
For every 5 cm of extra waist circumference, a mans risk of death was raised by 17 percent. For women, the increase was 13 percent.
The team analyzed data from more than 350,000 people, looking at a number of diet and lifestyle factors, as well as body composition.
Lead author Dr Tobias Pischon said that fat around the middle is different than fat located in other areas of the body.
“Abdominal fat is not only a mere energy depot, but it also releases messenger substances that can contribute to the development of chronic diseases,” he explained.
Previous research has found that waist circumference can also affect a persons likelihood of suffering from heart disease and diabetes.