THE UNHOLY TRINITY: FAT, FOOD AND AGE - MIRROR, MIRROR ON THE WALL, WHO IS THE FATTEST OF THEM ALL? ARE YOU AN APPLE OR A PEAR?

Otherwise known as the waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) is another fat test that is enjoying a great deal of popularity for its accuracy in determining your fat zone and your risk of developing the diseases of premature ageing. Scientists now believe that the location of fat deposits around your body is also a very important factor in how big a risk that fat is to your overall health.

Women generally have more fat around the hip area, making them pears. Men tend to have fat deposits around their middles, making them apples. The apples are at a greater risk for cardiovascular disease than the pears. So if you are a man and your WHR is greater than 1.0, you are an apple and too fat for your own health. If you are a woman and your WHR is more than 0.85, you're an apple too and are carrying way too much fat.

The Apple or Pear Do-It-Yourself Test

Here's the do-it-yourself version.

Using a fabric tape, measure your waist at the level of your tummy button. Sucking in your tummy is cheating. Just stay relaxed.

1. My tummy button waist measurement is _

Now measure around your buttocks or hips. Find the place that's the widest and measure that.

2. My hip or buttocks measurement is__

Now divide your hip measurement into your waist measurement or divide your second result into your first result.

*27\323\8*