For years, experts have made body mass index the Holy Grail of determining obesity and risk factors for health problems.

But now doctors are focusing in on waistlines in addition to BMI to calculate risks for heart disease, according to a New York Times article.

Drs. Michael F. Roizen and Mehmet C. Oz, authors of "You: On a Diet" say waist size is more important than weight, because belly fat is so strongly linked to many health risks.

I've never been much of a waist-watcher, but perhaps it's time I began. Just don't expect me to ditch my scale.

-- Amanda Barrett, amNY.com