Fruit information loops

You've probably heard that the shape of your inner fruit influences your risk for heart disease. The pears with heavy hips have it all over the apples with expanding waistlines.

Doctors at Columbia University checked out waistline measurements on nearly 7,000 women from 18 to 93, adding further credence to conventional wisdom. Those women whose waistlines topped 35 inches were significantly more likely to have associated hypertension, elevated cholesterol, and blood sugar troubles.

Get out the tape measure. If you measure up in an unfortunate way (check at the level of your midsection that is first to enter a room), ask your doctor to measure your blood pressure, fasting cholesterol, and pre-breakfast blood sugar.