What does the size of your waist say about the state of your health? A whole bunch, actually.

Your waist size can predict whether or not you're headed for a heart attack and what other risk factors you face. And watch out if yours is large (more than 35 inches for ladies and more than 40 for men). A large waist can signal a high level of visceral fat -- the fat found inside the abdominal wall that gathers around our vital organs.

A better measure of health than Body Mass Index (BMI), the waist might just be the window to your life expectancy. If your waist is on a growth spurt, then, you ought to do a little renovation. Here, how you can shrink your mid-area: Lose weight, exercise, limit saturated and trans fats, eat the right kinds of fat (especially monounsaturated fatty acids, which are found in olive oil, nuts and seeds) and cut down on processed carbohydrates -- replace with whole grains and high-fiber foods. I know, it's not easy to practice these tips all the time. And guess what? You don't need to. Just accomplish them more often than not, and your waist should settle right where it needs to be.