Statins, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, and combination therapies have been shown to reduce the cardiovascular event rate in susceptible individuals, albeit with remaining significant residual risk. Some of the sources of residual risk, such as genetics and epigenetic phenomena, are not easily modifiable. Still, the risk imposed by these factors may be lowered by implementation of dietary, behavioral, and pharmacologic interventions. Abdominal obesity has emerged as one element in the cluster of factors linked to increased propensity for cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. It is a potential therapeutic target to reduce residual cardiometabolic risk. Waist circumference has been shown to be a strong correlate of abdominal obesity, and measurement is a useful tool for the assessment of cardiometabolic risk.