I will try to make this post a little shorter since I wrote a long one on BMI!
Waist circumference measurement is an indicator of central or visceral body fat.The more of this kind of fat you have, the more your risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes and other cardio-metabolic complications. This is the typical apple body shape.
This is important to measure for ethnic groups such as South and East Asians.
First of all, which area of the abdomen do you measure?
Canada and the United States have both adopted the NIH protocol which involves measuring the top of the iliac crest. In the picture provided, it is the bone between the man’s thumb and forefinger!
What are the cutoff points for waist circumference by ethnic group? This means anything above these numbers puts you at higher risk for cardio-metabolic disease. These guidelines are based on the Diabetes Federation Numbers.
Male Europid: 37 inches (94 cm)
Female Europid: 31.5 inches (80 cm)
Male South Asian: 35.5 inches (90 cm)
Female South Asian: 31.5 inches (80 cm)
Male Hispanic: numbers vary. 35.5 inches (90 cm)
Female Hispanic: numbers vary. 31.5 inches (80 cm)
Male East Asian: 35.5 inches (90 cm)
Female East Asian: 31.5 inches (80 cm)
Male African descent: Poor data. From the research I reviewed, Use the Europid values: 37 inches (94 cm)
Female African descent: Poor data. Same as Europid values: 31.5 inches (80 cm)
In all categories:
High or increased risk of metabolic issues at measurement above:
male waist circumference: 37 inches (94 cm)
Female waist circumference: 31.5 inches (80 cm)
Extremely High Risk of metabolic issues at measurement above:
Male waist circumference: 40 inches (102 cm)
Female waist circumference: 35 inches( 88 cm)
Waist circumference measurement is a reliable indicator of cardio-metabolic risk because it attempts to measure body fat that is closest to the organs. This location is where the risk for obesity related complications is the greatest.