It's All in the Wrist: New Research Suggests Wrist Measurements Could Detect Risk for Heart Disease

A person's body weight can easily be measured by doctors to predict a patient's risk for heart disease— of course unless that patient is a teenager— but now doctors are using a person's wrist to determine their risk for heart problems.

Researchers at the University of Rome surveyed nearly 500 overweight children in a study that measured their wrist circumference. The measurements were compared to risk factors for heart problems later in life.

Researchers said people with larger wrists were more likely to develop insulin resistance, which is known to increase the risk for heart problems later in life.

Wrist circumference does not fluctuate with the body fat changes that happen during puberty. Researchers hope it could be a good marker for high insulin levels.