How to properly measure your waistline?
It is well known that the BMI (Body Mass Index) is the surest measure for evaluating the weight status of the body and predicting the complications that this can cause. However, the BMI is only an overall value that does not take into account the different individual specificities such as the distribution of fat in the body. It is for this purpose that measuring your waistline is very useful and provides crucial information in addition to the BMI.
What is the waist circumference?
Taking your waist circumference means measuring the abdominal circumference in order to assess the intra-abdominal adipose panicle (1) . Waist circumference is a good indicator of health. Abdominal fat is the most dangerous in the body. As a result, dozens of studies have focused on this index and have shown its correlation with several pathologies. Thus, two consensuses of experts were formed to define the size limits of the waist circumference. We will come back to this later in this text.
Why measure your waistline?
The main advantage of waist circumference is its independence from BMI. Indeed, it makes it possible to detect possible pathologies (diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, etc.) even in people with a normal or slightly increased BMI (2) (3). Moreover, it gives an absolute and real value of the waist circumference and not a ratio, so it is not biased in very tall or heavy people.
Finally, there are significant variations in the distribution of fat according to ethnic groups or even among individuals of the same society. The waist circumference, combined with the hip circumference, makes it possible to measure the waist/hip circumference ratio and thus standardize the data.
Stephen Paul is the lead author and founder of My Health Sponsor. Holder of a diploma in health and well-being coaching with more than 200 articles in the field of health, he makes it a point of honor to offer advice based on reliable information, based on scientific research, and verified by health professionals.