Question The article in your December 2014 issue in regards to the expansion of ladies's waistlines over the past few years surprised me, as I actually have experienced a rise, and I actually have not gained weight. My theory is that the forms of the previous couple of years – pants with low riding on the hips, no belt on the waist, and loose shirts – can have increased my waist by 24 to 25½ inches. I'm 59, so it’d just be aging typically, but I still think belted styles make women look smaller. am I right?
Oh There is not any evidence that the physiological effect of wearing a belt affects waist circumference. At best, wearing a belt is a option to keep tabs in your waist. While a scar while loosening your belt may make some women re-evaluate their weight loss program and exercise routines, it doesn't sound like you might want to. I feel your alternative explanation that aging is responsible is more more likely to be correct.
Quite a lot of things occur as we age. We lose muscle mass, so our stomach muscles aren't as tight as they was, and the lack of elastin and collagen in our skin allows gravity to take its course so the skin starts to sag. Both may cause the waistline to expand. We also lose height because the discs between our vertebrae shrink, shrinking the vertical space in our abdominal cavity and expanding it outward. Finally, the lack of estrogen after menopause causes a slight change in fat within the abdominal area.
If it's any consolation, women with a waist measurement of 28 inches or less have the bottom risk of heart disease, and also you're still in that range. By keeping your weight stable, you've already reduced your risk of diabetes and certain cancers.
