I am surprised by the extent of the problem. There will be more heart attacks and strokes. The quality of life for these individuals will suffer and their longevity will be compromised.
It is as simple as putting a measuring tape around the waist. That will give an indication.
This was an important study to do. What it points out, apart from the negative results, is the importance of doing such randomized trials so that we know whether a particular treatment is effective or not.
That's important because that's what precipitates an acute heart attack or stroke.