Waist size check
Where you carry weight matters as well as how much. Extra fat around the waist is linked to a higher risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes. This check uses the cut-offs from the U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) for adults.
Higher-risk waist sizes for adults
| Group | Inches | Centimetres |
|---|---|---|
| Women | More than 35 | More than 88 |
| Men | More than 40 | More than 102 |
How to measure your waist
- Stand up straight and find the top of your hip bones.
- Wrap a tape measure around your middle, just above your hip bones, keeping it level all the way round.
- Keep it snug but not pressing into your skin.
- Breathe out normally, then read the measurement.
Good to know
- Waist size is a screening check, not a diagnosis. It's most useful alongside BMI: try the adult BMI calculator.
- It doesn't apply during pregnancy, or to children.
- Some health organisations use lower cut-offs for some ethnic groups, for example people of South Asian, Chinese or Japanese background.
- If your waist is above the cut-off, a doctor can check your blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol and talk through what would help.
Sources
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NIH): Aim for a healthy weight
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIH): Am I at a healthy weight?
- NIDDK: Risk factors for type 2 diabetes