Waistline Measurement to Assess Health Risk

Waistline measurement? Why bother?

Because it can save your life.

Currently the connection between abdominal (omentum) fat and health is well established.

The bigger the "belly" the bigger the risk for high blood pressure, heart attack, type 2 diabetes or metabolic syndrome. People usually associate heart disease with overall obesity, but little is known by the general public about the direct link between big waistline and heart.

It is a common misunderstanding that lean people with a cute "little tummy" are not at risk for a high blood pressure because they are not obese. This is wrong, because their waistline measurement would still be outside the normal range.

I would like for you to be able to assess your own health risk at home. Here are the basics one should know:

1. The words big waistline, central obesity, abdominal obesity, and midsection obesity mean the same thing. It means that there is fat around the waist that should not be there. It means BIG BELLY.

2. The most simple (and reliable) way to assess abdominal obesity at home is by waistline measurement.

Below are the healthy normal waistline numbers by gender.

1. According to AHA-NHLBI (American Heart Association) guidelines:

Female:

Normal: Less than 35 inches (88 cm)

Increased: At or above 35 inches (88 cm)

Male:

Normal: Less than 40 inches (102 cm)

Increased: At or above 40 inches (102 cm)

2. According to IDF (International Diabetes Federation) guidelines:

Female:

Normal: Less than 32 inches (80 cm)

Male:

Normal: Less than 38 inches (94cm)

Central or abdominal obesity:

Female: At or above 32 inches (80 cm)

Male: At or above 38 inches (94cm)

If you don't have a tape measure you can divide your height in inches by two. Your waistline needs to be that number or smaller in inches.

3. You can use the BMI (body mass index) to assess your overall obesity. The BMI (body mass index) is your weight in kilograms divided by the square of your height, in meters. You can calculate your BMI by:

a) Multiply your weight in pounds by 703

b) Multiply your height in inches by itself

c) Divide the first number by the second

d) Round to the nearest whole number: that's your BMI

Normal: 18.5-24.9

Overweight: 25-29.9

Obese: at or above 30

Keep in mind that for some people, particularly athletes who exercise a great deal, the BMI index could show them as being obese when in fact they are in excellent physical condition.

While both waistline measurement and BMI assess your overall obesity, ONLY the waistline measurement can assess the fat around your abdominal organs which is stress related. This is the reason why waist circumference is measured while assessing the stress related fat accumulation.

For starters- all you need is a tape measure. Position it around your waist at the level of you navel. You can also use the hip bone as a guide-the tape should go above the hip bone, and you are on your way to learn a lot about yourself and your health.

Believe me. I see it on a daily basis. People are amazed that they still have abdominal obesity even though they are not obese overall.

It comes as a surprise to them but remember that the stress hormone cortisol comes into play here. Chronic stress leads to fat deposition in the abdominal area which results in a big waistline. It makes you realize how vulnerable the human body is to the effects of stress.

Researchers now know that if most of your fat is in the belly area, your heart risk is greater than if the fat resides in the hips, thighs or rear (sometimes referred to as the apple versus pear shape body type).

So get started with a tape measure and some practical weight and stress control solutions

Don't forget to bookmark this page because you will need it again to truck your progress.

From Waistline measurement return to Home page.

Read more about Waistline and Stress; Waistline and Metabolic Syndrome; Waistline and Type 2 Diabetes;

If you think that Andropause and Menopause are not affected by stress think again.

What about Leptin and Waistline?

Read my article Why Should Men Care About Their Waistline?

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