According to new research, the thickness of person's neck could reveal their risk of heart problems, which may be of interest to holders of private health insurance.

The Framingham Heart Study examined more than 3,300 adults with an average age of 51 and discovered the average neck circumferences were 40.5cm for men and 34.2cm for women.

In addition, the research found that as circumferences increased the level of high-density lipoprotein, or good cholesterol, in the blood decreased, which has been linked to an individual having a higher risk of heart problems.

However, the study also revealed that neck size does not increase the amount of bad cholesterol, although it was linked to an increase in blood glucose levels.

Professor Jimmy Bell of the MRC Clinical Sciences Centre, lead author of the research, said the findings suggest a person's health risk is determined by where their fat is located, not on their overall size.

He said "What you don't want is fat around your liver or heart, and this can happen even if you look fine on the outside."