Waist Measurement
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Introduction[edit | edit source]
Waist measurement is a simple check to tell if you’re carrying excess body fat around your middle.
- Your waist measurement is an indicator of the level of internal fat deposits that coat the heart, kidneys, liver, digestive organs and pancreas.
- This can increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and cancer[1].
Measuring the Waist[edit | edit source]
Waist Circumference: To measure waist circumference, patients should stand with their arms crossed on the contralateral shoulders. The placement of the measuring tape should be snugly around the lateral aspect of each ilium at the mid-axillary line. It is an essential measure of anthropometry in adults and children as it directly measures central adiposity. Increasing central adiposity is associated with an increased risk of morbidity and mortality due to an increased risk of diabetes and heart disease[2].
Your health is at risk if your waist size is:
- MEN: Over 94cm (about 37 inches)
- WOMEN: Over 80cm (about 31.5 inches)[1]
BMI[edit | edit source]
Body mass index (BMI), is a measure for estimating total body fat and is calculated by dividing your weight in kilograms by your height in metres squared. But while it can be a useful tool, the distribution of fat on your body is more important than the amount when it comes to predicting health risks – and that’s where waist measurement comes into play.
High whole-body fat percentage is independently associated with increased mortality. [3]
Why Waist Size Matters[edit | edit source]
It’s not just how much fat you’re carrying on your body that matters to your health. Where it is plays a key role too.
Research shows that weight around the hips can actually provide some level of protection against disease, but carrying excess body fat around your middle has the opposite effect.
Waist measurement can indicate how much internal fat is coating organs eg the liver, kidneys and heart, which increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and cancer.
Official guidelines say regardless of your height, your health is at risk if your waist size is more than 94cm for men and 80cm for women[4].
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Resources[edit | edit source]
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References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Heart Foundation Waist Measurement Available: https://www.heartfoundation.org.au/heart-health-education/waist-measurement (accessed 9.11.2021)
- ↑ Casadei K, Kiel J. Anthropometric measurement. StatPearls [Internet]. 2020 Apr 28. Available: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537315/(accessed 9.11.2021)
- ↑ Woolcott OO, Bergman RN. Relative fat mass (RFM) as a new estimator of whole-body fat percentage─ A cross-sectional study in American adult individuals. Scientific reports. 2018 Jul 20;8(1):1-1.Available:https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-29362-1#Sec8 (accessed 9.11.2021)
- ↑ Wellness Waist size or BMI Available: https://www.houseofwellness.com.au/health/news/waist-size-bmi-healthy-weight (accessed 9 11 2021)
