Waistline Measurement

Why bother with waistline measurement? Here is why:

People usually associate heart disease with overall obesity, but the general public knows little about the direct link between big waistline and many serious conditions.

It is a common misunderstanding that lean people with a cute "little tummy" are not at risk for a high blood pressure because they are not obese. This is wrong, because their waistline measurement would still be outside the normal range. The bigger the "belly" the bigger the risk for high blood pressure, heart attack, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. Big waistline has also recently being linked to memory loss, Alzheimer's disease, asthma, depression and early death.

I would like for you to be able to assess your own health risks at home. In order for you to do so, here are the basic things you should know:

1. The words big waistline, central obesity, abdominal obesity, and midsection obesity mean the same thing. It means that there is fat around the waist that should not be there. It means BIG BELLY.

2. The most simple (and reliable) way to assess abdominal obesity at home is by waistline measurement.

What is Normal Waistline? According to AHA-NHLBI (American Heart Association) guidelines:

1. Normal Female Waistline: Less than 35 inches (88 cm)

Increased Female Waistline: At or above 35 inches (88 cm)

2. Normal Male Waistline: Less than 40 inches (102 cm)

Increased Male Waistline: At or above 40 inches (102 cm)

If you don't have a tape measure you can divide your height in inches by two. Your waistline needs to be that number or smaller in inches.

To assess your overall obesity you can use the BMI (body mass index). The BMI is your weight in kilograms divided by the square of your height, in meters. You can calculate your BMI by: a) Multiply your weight in pounds by 703 b) Multiply your height in inches by itself c) Divide the first number by the second d) Round to the nearest whole number: that's your BMI

Normal BMI: 18.5-24.9; Overweight BMI: 25-29.9; Obese BMI: at/above 30

Keep in mind that for some people, particularly athletes who exercise a great deal and have more muscle, the BMI index could show them as being obese when in fact they are in excellent physical condition. While both waistline measurement and BMI assess your overall obesity, ONLY the waistline measurement can assess the fat around your abdominal organs which is stress related. This is the reason why waist circumference is measured while assessing the stress related fat accumulation.

How to measure the waistline?

All you need is a tape measure. Position it around your waist at the level of you navel (over the skin fold, if any), and you are on your way to learn a lot about your health. People are amazed that they have big waistline even though they are not obese overall.

It comes as a surprise to them but remember that the stress hormone cortisol comes into play here. It makes you realize how vulnerable the human body is to the effects of stress.

Researchers now know that if most of your fat is in the belly area, your heart risk is greater than if the fat resides in the hips, thighs or rear (sometimes referred to as the apple versus pear shape body type).

So get started with a tape measure and find out Why men should care about their waistline

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