A healthy blue whale can have a neck with a circumference of 540 inches (45 feet). But humans need a much smaller neck size to be able to swim around diseases such as Type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, atrial fibrillation, high blood pressure, and heart failure.

That's because a thick neck indicates excess fat in the upper body, which is known to increase strain on your cardiovascular system and to impact metabolic functions such as regulation of blood glucose and LDL cholesterol.

And an oversized neck causes those health damages even if you're not overweight or obese.

What neck size is a sign of serious health risks? For men, it's a circumference of 17 inches or more; for women, 14 inches-plus is risky.

And how do you lose excess fat around your neck?

According to nonprofit news organization The Conversation, you can reduce your neck size by doing cardiovascular exercises such as interval and strength training, and by making sure to get sufficient, quality sleep. That will also improve your metabolic health.

In addition, you can reduce unhealthy, upper-body fat storage by eating a plant-based diet that is rich in legumes, fruits, and vegetables, and by dodging saturated fats.

I'm going to stick my neck out and suggest that using the GLP-1 weight-loss drug tirzepatide is another smart way to reduce everything from your weight to your neck size and heart risks — and it can help control sleep apnea, liver damage, and more.