Waist circumference alone can be a risk factor for which condition?

Waist circumference is a significant indicator of abdominal fat and has a strong correlation with various health risks, particularly those related to metabolic health. When assessing health risks, waist circumference is often used to evaluate the amount of visceral fat—fat that is stored within the abdominal cavity surrounding vital organs. This type of fat is particularly harmful and is associated with conditions such as hypertension.

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, has been linked to obesity, especially abdominal obesity, as it can lead to increased resistance in the blood vessels and changes in heart function. A larger waist circumference suggests a higher quantity of visceral fat, contributing to increased blood pressure due to the inflammatory processes and hormonal changes that abdominal fat can provoke.

While waist circumference can also be related to conditions like diabetes due to its association with insulin resistance, the question specifically inquires about which condition is solely indicated by waist circumference. Among the options provided, hypertension stands out as a direct consequence of high abdominal fat, making it a plausible and commonly recognized risk factor tied directly to waist measurement.