When was the last time you measured your waistline? If you assume that BMI is the only number to focus on when it comes to your health, think twice. New research has revealed a shocking revelation—your waist circumference might be a far better predictor of men's cancer risk than BMI.

The study finds that for each 4-inch increase in waist size, a man's risk of cancer increases by a staggering 25%. Meanwhile, BMI, commonly regarded as the gold standard for assessing obesity, raises cancer risk by only 19% for the same weight gain. So, if you've been dismissing that pesky belly fat, it's time to take notice.

But why is your waistline so important? The reason is visceral fat—the hidden, deep fat that accumulates around your organs. Unlike other body fat, visceral fat is a stealthy troublemaker, causing inflammation, insulin resistance, and abnormal blood fat levels—all of which combine to create a cancer-perfect storm.

Obesity has been associated with an increased risk of numerous health conditions, including cancer, for decades. The research, though, indicates that a specific measure of the body—waist circumference—may be an even more reliable forecaster of cancer risk in men than the more frequently employed Body Mass Index (BMI). This finding emphasizes the need to pay particular attention to the distribution of fat and not merely to the weight of the body.

BMI has been the go-to measure for years for gauging health risks related to obesity. New research, though, that appears in The Journal of the National Cancer Institute indicates that waist measurement is a better predictor of cancer risk in men. According to the research, four more inches (10 cm) around the waist will add 25% to a man's cancer risk. Conversely, a 3.7 kg/m² rise in BMI (from a BMI of 24 to 27.7) increased cancer risk by only 19%.

Why is waist circumference a better predictor, then? Unlike BMI, which measures weight relative to height, waist circumference actually measures abdominal fat—specifically, visceral fat. This type of fat encircles internal organs and is also linked to higher levels of inflammation, insulin resistance, and abnormal blood lipids, all of which are factors in cancer growth. BMI, however, does not measure fat distribution, so two individuals with the same BMI can have very different levels of health risk depending on where fat is deposited on their bodies.

Why Men Are at Higher Risk?

Interestingly, the research identified a significant difference between men and women when it came to waist circumference and cancer risk. Although waist circumference and BMI were linked with obesity-related cancers in women, the relationship was weaker than for men. An increase of 12 cm (4.7 inches) in waist size or a 4.3 rise in BMI (from 24 to 28.3) raised the cancer risk in women by just 13%—a much lower percentage than for men.

Experts credit this difference to the way that fat is stored in the body. Men are more likely to carry fat around the abdomen, especially as visceral fat, which is more metabolically active and associated with cancer-producing biological alterations. Women, by contrast, store fat in peripheral sites such as the hips and thighs, where it is less likely to drive systemic inflammation and metabolic disturbances.

A possible reason is that men tend to depot fat more in the visceral regions, whereas women tend to carry more subcutaneous and peripheral fat," wrote the researchers. "This may render waist circumference a more robust risk factor for cancer in men and account for why waist circumference provides additional risk information beyond BMI in men but not women."

Cancer Types Most Linked to Abdominal Fat

The research used the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) data to define obesity-related cancers. These cancers are esophageal (adenocarcinoma), gastric (cardia), colorectal, rectal, liver, gallbladder, pancreatic, renal, and thyroid cancers, and multiple myeloma and meningioma. In men, abdominal obesity is especially significant in raising the risk of these cancers through high levels of insulin and markers of inflammation.

For women, the research proposes that both waist circumference and hip circumference may give a more accurate estimate of visceral fat and cancer risk. "Adding hip circumference to risk models could strengthen the link between waist circumference and cancer, especially in women," researchers observed.

What This Means for Men's Health and Cancer Prevention?

With these results, doctors advise men to be more mindful of their waistline than only their BMI. Waist size is an easy method to gauge health risk, and its maintenance through lifestyle changes might be the key to cancer prevention.

How To Reduce Cancer Risk In Men?

Track Your Waist Size: Regularly measure your waist circumference and try to keep it in a healthy range (below 40 inches for men, according to medical advice).

Eat a Balanced Diet: A diet containing high fiber, lean protein, and healthy fats can assist in limiting visceral fat gain.

Exercise Consistently: Regular exercise with a combination of aerobic and strength training will help maintain a healthy waistline.

Control Stress and Sleep: Persistent stress and inadequate sleep tend to cause weight gain, especially in the midsection of the body.

Regular Health Screenings: Early identification of cancer risk factors through regular screening can greatly enhance long-term health status.

Spending hours sitting at a desk, gaming or binge-watching shows without moving may increase the risk of blood clots, including deep vein thrombosis (DVT), vascular experts have warned.

Prolonged sitting slows blood flow from the legs, potentially increasing the risk of clot formation. Experts from the Vascular Society of India (VSI) highlighted the concern at the VSI-ASVS 2026 Conference, noting that sedentary screen habits warrant attention even among young, otherwise healthy people.

“In our OPD, we are seeing patients where lifestyle history has become an important part of the vascular evaluation. Earlier, when we thought about prolonged immobility, we primarily discussed long-distance travel, hospitalization or being bedridden. Today, we also need to ask young patients how many hours they spend continuously sitting in front of a gaming console, computer or OTT screen,” said Dr. Tarun Grover, Senior Director of Peripheral Vascular and Endovascular Sciences at Medanta.

What Is DVT?

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) occurs when a blood clot forms in a deep vein, usually in the legs. If the clot travels to the lungs, it can cause a potentially life-threatening pulmonary embolism.

Although prolonged immobility has traditionally been associated with long-distance travel, hospitalization and bed rest, experts say extended screen time can also contribute to inactivity.

Gaming and binge-watching do not automatically cause DVT. However, prolonged sitting may add to the risk, particularly in people with obesity, dehydration, smoking habits, hormonal risk factors, inherited clotting disorders or a previous history of thrombosis.

Also read: Richard Branson’s Wife’s Death Highlights Blood Clot Risk After Fractures

What Does Science Say?

A 2024 systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis published in Scientific Reports, covering 25 articles and 31 studies, found that people with the highest levels of sedentary behavior had approximately 24% higher risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) than those with the lowest levels.

The analysis also found a 2% increase in VTE risk for every additional hour of sedentary behavior per day. The association persisted after accounting for physical activity, suggesting that exercise may not fully offset the potential risks of prolonged sitting.

The experts explained that when people sit for hours, their calf muscles—which help pump blood back toward the heart—remain relatively inactive, slowing venous circulation.

A separate study of 11 adolescents with thrombosis found that all reported at least four hours of daily screen exposure, averaging approximately six hours. Eight had DVT in the legs, two had pulmonary embolism and one had subclavian vein thrombosis.

Many also had inherited thrombophilia, a predisposition to blood clots. Researchers noted that prolonged screen-related inactivity may act as an additional trigger rather than the sole cause of thrombosis.

“The evidence showing a 24% higher VTE risk with higher sedentary exposure should make us take this issue seriously. A young age should not create a false sense of security, particularly when prolonged sitting is combined with other risk factors,” Dr. Grover said.

How Can You Reduce The Risk?

Experts recommend taking regular movement breaks during work, gaming and streaming sessions to avoid prolonged uninterrupted sitting.

“Just as smoking increases vascular and clotting risks, prolonged sitting can also increase the risk of blood clots. When a person remains seated for hours, the calf-muscle pump becomes inactive, venous blood flow from the legs slows down and blood can stagnate in the deep veins," said Dr. Bhupesh Garg, Senior Vascular and Endovascular Surgeon, Vascular Society of India.

The message should be simple: if you are going to spend hours on a screen, do not spend those hours completely still, the experts said.

The Black Death swept across Eurasia and North Africa between 1346 and 1353, killing an estimated 30% to 60% of Europe's population.

Plague continued to recur in Europe over subsequent centuries, causing millions of deaths. Caused by Yersinia pestis, the same bacterium responsible for plague today, the Black Death was primarily associated with bubonic plague, although pneumonic plague also occurred.

Bubonic plague typically spreads through infected flea bites, while pneumonic plague affects the lungs and can spread between people through infectious respiratory particles during close contact. All forms can be fatal without prompt treatment, but antibiotics are effective when administered early.

India's 1994 Plague Outbreak

Although often associated with medieval history, plague continues to occur in parts of the world.

In 1994, India experienced an outbreak involving both bubonic and pneumonic plague, following heavy flooding and reports of exposure to dead rats.

“When the plague outbreak happened in India, I was one of the people who investigated it. The outbreak involved bubonic plague, which can be treated with antibiotics, and Surat also saw 64 to 68 cases of pneumonic plague. We identified the plague bacillus and traced its cycle in the surrounding wildlife. Plague surveillance in rats and other animals is essential to detect outbreaks early and take preventive measures,” Dr. N.K. Ganguly, former Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), told HealthandMe.

There were 693 suspected cases that tested positive for Yersinia pestis antibodies and 56 deaths nationwide.

Surveillance, hygiene and timely treatment were essential to controlling the disease, said Dr. Amitabh Banerjee, an epidemiologist and former member of the Indian Armed Forces’ mobile epidemic investigation team. He investigated the 2002 pneumonic plague outbreak in Himachal Pradesh, which caused 16 cases and four deaths.

Plague Still Exists In Africa And The US

In the US, an average of about seven human plague cases are reported annually, mostly in rural areas of the American West, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The continued presence of Yersinia pestis in animal populations means the disease has not been eradicated.

“People think the plague is gone, it was something that occurred 500 years ago. It's not. It's here amongst us,” Simon Clarke of the University of Reading in the UK told the Associated Press. “Unless you get rid of those wild animals, which of course is not possible, then you're not going to get rid of the bacteria.”

Russia's Plague Scare: What We Know

Russia has completed checks following the October 2 death of 28-year-old laboratory worker Darya Shipilova in Siberia. Authorities have not confirmed plague as the cause, describing her illness as pneumonia of unknown origin. Nearly 5,000 samples reportedly showed no dangerous pathogens.

Reports of a second death linked to the plague was called "fake news" by Russia, and no plague outbreak has been confirmed in Russia. The WHO and US have requested Russia for more transparency regarding the cases.

Can Plague Be Eradicated?

Plague persists because Yersinia pestis circulates naturally among wild and domestic animals, including rodents, and their fleas. Eliminating human cases in one location does not remove the bacterium from these animal reservoirs.

Dr. Banerjee said plague can be deadly, particularly when it affects the lungs, but modern antibiotics are highly effective when treatment begins early.

“Plague cannot be eradicated because it is in wildlife, it is in rodents and all. So the only thing is hygiene and, with modern antibiotics, there should not be any panic,” he told HealthandMe.

Bubonic plague does not typically spread directly between people, while pneumonic plague can spread through infectious respiratory particles during close contact. Pneumonic plague can progress rapidly and requires urgent treatment.

Dr. Banerjee cautioned against assuming that a suspected case automatically signals a wider outbreak, noting that early diagnosis and appropriate antibiotic treatment are crucial.

Indian jewelery designer Saba Ali Khan, daughter of veteran actress Sharmila Tagore and cricketer Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, has opened up about her brain tumor diagnosis at the age of 27.

Speaking on her sister, actress Soha Ali Khan’s podcast, Saba recalled that her diagnosis came as a surprise, without common warning signs such as headaches or vision loss.

Dr. Mazda K. Turel, the neurosurgeon who treated her at Wockhardt Hospitals, Mumbai, told HealthandMe that people with brain tumors can be “walking, talking and functioning normally” despite having a potentially serious tumor. He explained why tumors can go unnoticed and which symptoms warrant medical attention.

How Saba Ali Khan Discovered Her Brain Tumor

Saba recalled fainting while out with a friend. After losing consciousness a second time, she took around 20–25 minutes to regain consciousness.

An MRI revealed a shadow in the third ventricle of her brain. Doctors initially diagnosed a colloid cyst, a rare, non-cancerous growth.

Six months later, she underwent surgery and was diagnosed with pilocytic astrocytoma, a slow-growing, generally low-grade tumor of the brain or spinal cord.

Also read: Survival In Aggressive Brain Tumors Improves By Up To 50% in India, Say Doctors

Why Brain Tumours Go Undetected In Young Adults

“Brain tumors don’t check your age before making an appearance,” Dr. Turel said. “In young adults, symptoms are often dismissed as stress, migraines, fatigue or lack of sleep. Some tumors grow slowly, allowing the brain to adapt remarkably well.”

“The brain has an extraordinary ability to compensate, especially when a tumor grows slowly or develops in a relatively silent area,” he explained.

Early signs may include persistent headaches, subtle personality changes, difficulty concentrating, blurred vision and unexplained seizures. Other clues include forgetting familiar words, unexplained irritability, occasional imbalance and brief episodes of staring or losing awareness.

Sometimes, family members notice changes before the patient does. Dr. Turel illustrated the difference between ordinary forgetfulness and a potentially concerning change: “If you forget keys, that is OK, but if you forget what the keys are for,” it is a sign to get checked.

“The problem is that these symptoms are common, but their persistence or progression is what deserves attention,” he told HealthandMe.

How Tumor Location Affects Symptoms

Read More: Can 'Eye Strain' Lead To Brain Cancer? Experts Explain

Symptoms often depend more on where a tumor is located than on its size, Dr. Turel explained.

• Frontal lobe: Changes in personality or judgement.
• Temporal lobe: Memory problems or unusual seizures.
• Visual pathways: Blurred or double vision.
• Cerebellum: Problems with balance and coordination.

“New speech difficulties, weakness, unexplained seizures or progressive cognitive changes should never be casually dismissed,” he warned.

Brain Tumor Or Migraine: When Should A Headache Worry You?

Migraines usually follow a recognizable pattern and may involve nausea or sensitivity to light and sound, Dr. Turel said.

Tumor-related headaches are more concerning when they are new, progressively worsening, different from previous headaches or accompanied by neurological changes. They may be worse in the morning or with coughing and straining, although this is not always the case.

A persistent headache that progressively worsens, wakes someone from sleep or occurs with vomiting, visual changes or neurological symptoms warrants medical evaluation.

"A sudden, explosive headache that reaches maximum intensity within seconds—a thunderclap headache—is a medical emergency," the neurosurgeon said, noting that it can occur while "walking, talking and functioning normally"

It may indicate bleeding around the brain from a ruptured aneurysm rather than a tumor. Sudden weakness, confusion, loss of consciousness or a first seizure also require emergency assessment.

“Most headaches are not caused by brain tumors, and a headache alone rarely indicates one. The key is not to panic about every headache, but to recognize when an old familiar headache begins behaving like a stranger,” Dr. Turel said.