Waist Circumference

Waist circumference measurement is particularly useful in adults who are categorized as normal or overweight. In individuals with BMIs ≥35 kg/m², however, waist circumference measurement adds little to the predictive power of the disease risk classification of BMI.¹⁴

Increased risk of comorbidities¹⁴:

• Men: waist circumference* >40 inches
• Women: waist circumference > 35 inches

* Waist circumference is measured by wrapping a tape measure in a horizontal plane around the abdomen at the level of the iliac crest.¹⁴

Increased waist circumference is often a sign of intraabdominal fat which can be more dangerous than subcutaneous fat. Intraabdominal fat increases glucose production, leading to an excess in insulin levels resulting in diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, unhealthy cholesterol levels, and heart disease.^11,14