4 Simple Health Rules to Boost Your Body and Soul at Any Age

Test This: Gauge Your Waist

Grab a measuring tape and wrap it around your body at the top of your hipbones; the number you see indicates how much abdominal fat you have. Anything over 35 inches means you're at increased risk for type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, and heart disease—even if your body mass index (BMI) falls within a healthy range. Do moderate-intensity cardio exercises like walking, jogging, or biking for two or more hours every week and you could shave about an inch off your waist over the course of six months, according to a study in the American Journal of Medicine.