Waist Measurement

Measurement of waist circumference has gained increasing interest in recent years as a means of assessing an individual's degree of risk for a range of medical conditions. These include type 2 (adult onset) diabetes, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease. Men with a waist circumference over 40 inches and women with a waist circumference over 35 inches are seen to be at increased risk of such medical conditions. It is thought that increased waist circumference indicates this increased degree of risk even if the individual is not overweight.

A related measure is the waist-hip ratio, and there is some debate as to which of the two (waist-hip ratio or waist circumference) is a more accurate indicator of medical risk.

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