The waist measurement test
Sometimes the simplest actions can be the biggest wake up call. Taking a measurement of your waist is a good indicator of increased disease risks related to being overweight and obese. The best news is you can do something about reducing your health risk.
How to measure your waist circumference
1. Hold the tape measure directly against your skin or light (not bulky) clothing.
2. Breathe out normally.
3. Ensure the tape is snug rather than pinching your skin.
4. Your waist is the area that's halfway between your lowest rib and the top of your hipbone, approximately in line with your belly button.
What's a healthy waistline?
Give or take a centimetre or two, for the majority of people, a waistline that's higher than the following numbers carries a risk of serious diseases.
Increased health risk:
Men: over 94 centimetres
Women: over 80 centimetres
Serious health risk:
Men: over 102 centimetres
Women: over 88 centimetres
These measurements are most indicative to Caucasian adults. Cut-offs for Asians and Indians may be lower whilst for Pacific Islanders and Afro-Americans, cut-offs may be higher.
Ethnic Specific Waist Measurements for Increased Risk of Chronic Illness
|
Ethnic specific values for waist circumference |
|
Country/Ethnic group |
Waist circumference |
|
Europids*
In the USA, the ATP III values (102cm male; 88cm female) are likely to continue to be used for clinical purposes |
Male
Female |
≥ 94cm
≥ 80cm |
|
South Asians
Based on a Chinese, Malay and Asian-Indian population |
Male
Female |
≥ 90cm
≥ 80cm |
|
Chinese |
Male
Female |
≥ 90cm
≥ 80cm |
|
Japanese** |
Male
Female |
≥ 90cm
≥ 80cm |
|
Ethnic South and Central Americans |
Use South Asian recommendations until more specific data are available |
|
Sub-Saharan Africans |
Use European recommendations until more specific data are available |
|
Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East (Arab) populations |
Use European recommendations until more specific data are available |
|
*In future epidemiological studies of populations of Europid origin, prevalence should be given using both European and North American cut-points to allow better comparisons.
**Originally different values were proposed for Japanese people but new data support the use of the values shown above. |