What is the ideal waist measurement?

waistline

Waist circumference is known as a measurement taken around the navel in the abdomen. Body weight, waist circumference, and skinfold thickness are among the methods used to assess general nutritional status. In addition, health experts use circumference. Waist to determine the extent of exposure to health problems related to body weight.

What is the ideal waist measurement?

A waist circumference measurement of 94 centimeters or more for men is an indicator of an increased risk of chronic diseases, while a waist circumference measurement of 102 centimeters or more is an indicator of a significant increase in the risk of developing these diseases. Therefore, when the waist circumference measurement is less than 94 One centimeter, which constitutes the healthy limit, their risk of developing chronic diseases decreases.

As for women, a waist circumference measurement of 80 centimeters or more is an indicator of an increased risk of chronic diseases, and if it is equal to 88 centimeters or more, it is an indicator of a significant increase in the risk of chronic diseases, but if it is less than 80 centimeters For women, the risk of developing chronic diseases is lower, and this represents the natural limit.

How to measure waist circumference

Measuring waist circumference is particularly useful if the patient's body mass index (in English: BMI) is normal or overweight, but if the BMI is equal to 35 or more, measuring waist circumference becomes less important in determining the degree of risk of disease. Therefore, it is not necessary to measure the waist circumference for this category.

It should be noted that measuring waist circumference is less accurate in some other cases. Such as: pregnancy due to the enlargement of the abdominal area during it, children, young people, and some ethnic groups. To measure waist circumference, the following steps must be followed:

• Place the measuring tape directly on the skin or over just one layer of thin clothing; This is around the waist area, which is located halfway between the lower rib of the rib cage and the pelvic bone, which is located approximately above the navel area.
• Inhale normally, and then take the measurement when exhaling.
• Make sure that the measuring tape is not too tight over the skin.

The importance of losing waist fat

Increasing the waist circumference measurement is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease and early death compared to having a smaller measurement or the concentration of weight gain in the buttocks and thighs. Many studies have indicated that abdominal obesity, or what is known as belly fat (in English: Abdominal obesity), is associated with A significant increase in the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, as indicated by an observational study published in the journal Diabetes, as well as an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and death, as indicated by an observational study based on observation published in the British medical journal,^[XNUMX] Even after controlling for BMI value.

It should be noted that it is necessary to lose weight, regardless of the person’s height or the value of his body mass index, if the waist circumference measurement is equal to 94 centimeters or more for men, and 80 centimeters or more for women, and a specialist doctor must be consulted if the waist circumference measurement is equal to 102 centimeters or more for men, and 88 centimeters or more for women. It is equal to XNUMX centimeters or more for men, and XNUMX centimeters or more for women, in order to increase the risk of developing some serious health problems, as mentioned previously, and this is due to the health condition being affected by the places where fat is stored in the body, in addition to weight.