“Apple-shaped” or “pear shaped” might as well be tomato (təˈmātō), təˈmätō.  This is according to new research dispelling myths about a woman’s shape and health.

For years, it was commonly accepted that women with apple shaped bodies were more likely to suffer from heart attacks and strokes.  Apple shaped women, who carry the majority of their weight around their waist, were often seen as having poorer cardio systems then women with pear shaped bodies, whose weight is normally gained in their butts, hips, and thighs.

The long-standing theory was that weight around the middle caused “central obesity” making women more likely to face heart attacks and strokes. However, new research shows that excess weight, no matter where a woman carries it, can put her at risk for heart disease.

Researchers looked at the Body Mass Indexes of 220,000 people and found that having a BMI over 30 could put a person at major risk for heart disease, regardless of their shape.

The study, partly funded by the British Heart Foundation Charity, dispels the myth about the connection between a woman’s body shape and health.  In the report, researchers from the Foundation said the best predictors of future heart risk are measures of blood pressure, cholesterol, and/or history of diabetes.