More on Obesity - Waist Measurement

Today, 66 percent of adults in the United States are considered overweight or obese. How do you know if you are among them? Two simple measures, body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference, provide useful estimates of overweight, obesity, and body fat distribution.

Health care providers also use BMI and waist circumference measures to assess a person’s risk of developing diabetes, heart disease, or other health problems. This fact sheet tells you how to measure your waist measurement and what this measure means for your health.

Excess weight as measured by BMI is not the only risk to your health. Where excess fat is located on your body may be another risk. If you carry fat mainly around your waist, you are more likely to develop health problems than if you carry fat mainly in your hips and thighs. This is true even if your BMI falls within the normal range. Women with a waist measurement of more than 35 inches or men with a waist measurement of more than 40 inches may have a higher disease risk than people with smaller waist measurements because of where their fat lies.

To measure your waist circumference, place a tape measure around your bare abdomen just above your hip bone. Be sure that the tape is snug (but does not compress your skin) and that it is parallel to the floor. Relax, exhale, and measure your waist.

Extra weight can put you at higher risk for these health problems:

    * type 2 diabetes (high blood sugar)
    * high blood pressure
    * heart disease and stroke
    * some types of cancer
    * sleep apnea (when breathing stops for short periods during sleep)
    * osteoarthritis (wearing away of the joints)
    * gallbladder disease
    * liver disease
    * irregular menstrual periods

What should I do if my BMI or waist measurement is too high? Extra weight can put you at a higher risk for many health problems, including type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.

If your BMI is between 25 and 30 and you are otherwise healthy, try to look into healthy ways to improve your eating and physical activity habits.

Talk to your Cardio-Med physician about losing weight if:

    * Your BMI is 30 or above, or
    * Your BMI is between 25 and 30 and you have:
      Two or more of the health problems listed above or
      A family history of heart disease or diabetes, or
    * Your waist measures over 35 inches (women) or 40 inches (men)
      —even if your BMI is less than 25 —and you have:
      Two or more of the health problems listed above or
      A family history of heart disease or diabetes.

National Institute of Diabetes and Kidney Diseases, 2009