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Waist Circumference and HealthWaist Circumference - IntroductionWaist circumference and BMI are interrelated, but waist circumference provides an independent prediction of risk over and above that of BMI. This because body fat that accumulates around the stomach area poses a greater health risk than fat stored in the lower half of the body. Waist Circumference - GenderA man's body is typically more "apple" shaped. He tends to collect fat around his waist and stomach area (beer belly). By contrast, womens bodies are more "pear" shaped as they tend to collect fat on their hips, buttocks and thighs. People with "apple" body shapes are more prone to develop diabetes and heart disease than those with "pear" body shapes. Waist Circumference - Relevant for Normal Weight and OverweightWaist circumference measurement is particularly useful in patients who are categorized as overweight on the BMI scale, although increased waist circumference can also be a marker for increased risk even in persons of normal weight. However, for someone with a BMI of 35 or over (obese), waist circumference has little added predictive power of disease risk beyond that of BMI. It is therefore not necessary to measure waist circumference in individuals with BMIs of 35 or over. Waist Circumference - Health RisksA high waist circumference is associated with an increased risk for type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and CVD in patients with a BMI in a range between 25 and 34.9. Monitoring changes in waist circumference over time may be helpful, in addition to measuring BMI, since it can provide an estimate of increased abdominal fat even in the absence of a change in BMI. Furthermore, in obese patients with metabolic complications, changes in waist circumference are useful predictors of changes in CVD risk factors. Measuring Your Waist CircumferenceMeasure your waist without holding the tape too tightly (or too loosely). As a rough guide, your waist is the narrowest part of your trunk, or approximately 1 inch above your belly button. Waist Measurements - Healthy and UnhealthyWomen
Men
Waist Circumference and BMI - GuidelinesWaist circumference and Body Mass Index (BMI) are interrelated. Check if your BMI and waist measurement fall into the healthy weight or overweight categories. See also Waist-Hip Ratio Table 1. Healthy vs. Unhealthy Weight - Using BMI and Waist Circumference
Sources:Includes information from National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, and American Dietetics Association. See also: |
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