WAIST CIRCUMFERENCE
Your waist circumference (WC) can help you determine your risk for overweight/obesity related health conditions. Excess fat in the waist area increases your risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, stroke, and more.
DETERMINE & CLASSIFY YOUR WAIST CIRCUMFERENCE
Step 1: Measure in the morning or on an empty stomach.
Step 2: Clear your abdominal area of clothing.
Step 3: Using your fingers, locate the top of your hip bone. This is at the side of your abdominal area. Then locate your lowest rib. This is at the side of your abdominal area and slightly to the back. Pick the mid point between the top of your hip bone and lowest rib. This is where you will measure your WC.
Step 4: Get a measuring tape. Measure from that midpoint area. Keep the measuring tape level to the ground as it wraps around your waist. Often, the measuring tape will cross your belly button or an inch above or below it.
Step 5: Stand straight and take a deep breathe in and exhale naturally. At the end of the exhale, measure your waist, but do not suck in your stomach. This is your WC measurement. Look at the chart above to see your waist classification.
IMPROVE YOUR WAIST CIRCUMFERENCE
Reach out if you’d like help improving your WC through an exercise program and diet.
OVERALL HEALTH
WC is 1 indicator of health. To get a more accurate overall condition of your health, do more health assessments. Next, do assessment 4 of 7, A Body Shape Index Z.