Published in JACC, the research found that waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) can reveal hidden heart risks that BMI may miss. This matters because visceral fat around abdominal organs are more strongly linked to heart disease and diabetes than fat stored beneath the skin. They examined nine cardiovascular outcomes, including heart attack, stroke, heart failure, atrial fibrillation and cardiovascular mortality. Among people classified as normal weight, 5% had a high waist circumference and 18% had a high waist-to-hip ratio. Researchers say clinicians should therefore consider waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio alongside BMI when assessing cardiovascular risk.