The findings challenge the long-standing practice of using BMI as the primary measure of overweight, obesity and future cardiovascular disease. Participants had available WC or WHR data and were assessed for one or more of nine outcomes: fatal or nonfatal myocardial infarction, fatal or nonfatal stroke, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, total coronary heart disease, total cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease mortality, cardiovascular disease mortality and all-cause mortality. Researchers lacked detailed data on physical activity, diet and genetic susceptibility to obesity, all of which can influence cardiovascular disease. Subject of Research: The relationship between body mass index, waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio and long-term cardiovascular disease risk. Keywords: cardiovascular disease, heart disease, body mass index, BMI, waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, central adiposity, visceral fat, obesity, cardiovascular risk, myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure, atrial fibrillation