‘Spare tyre’ on waist is a sign of increased health risks

A ‘spare tyre’ round the middle of an otherwise average-sized body is more dangerous than being fat all over, research has shown.

The startling discovery was made by scientists who analysed data on 15,184 American men and women with an average age of 45.

Over a period of 14 years, normal-weight individuals with bulging middles had a worse survival record than participants officially classified as overweight or obese.