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Waist Circumference Fact Sheet
Measuring Waist Circumference to Assess Disease Risk

Why measure waist circumference?
Waist Circumference is a practical tool for evaluating abdominal fat before and during weight loss treatment. By measuring waist circumference, physicians can assess their patient's risk for diseases associated with excess abdominal fat, such as type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertension and CVD.

How do you measure?
Locate the upper hip bone and the top of the right iliac crest (portion of the pelvic bone at the belt line of the body). Place a measuring tape in a horizontal plane around the abdomen at the level of the iliac crest. Before reading the tape measure, make sure the tape is secure, but not too tight and is parallel to the floor. The reading should be taken at the end of an expiration.

Who's at risk?
Men with a waist circumference greater than 40 inches and women with a waist circumference greater than 35 inches.

Classification of Overweight and Obesity by BMI, Waist Circumference and Associated Disease Risk*
Categories
BMI (kg/m2) Disease Risk* (Relative to Normal Weight and Waist Circumference)
    Men <= in=""> Women < in=""> >40 in (<> <35 in="">
Underweight
<18.5> / /
Normal
18.5 - 24.9 / /
Overweight
25.0 - 29.9 Increased High
Obesity
30.0 - 34.9 High Very High
  35.0 - 39.9 Very High Very High
Extreme Obesity
>= 40 Extremely High Extremely High
* Increased abdominal fat is associated with an increased risk for type 2 diabetes, hypertension and CVD.

 BMI's relationship with waist circumference? Measuring obesity with BMI does have limitations. By looking just at height and weight, BMI can overestimate body fat in muscular people and can underestimate body fat in people who have lost muscle mass. Waist circumference can help predict disease risks, especially for those with a BMI between 25 and 34.9. To most effectively assess a patients' risk status, both measurements need to be considered. Source: NHLBI, The Practical Guide to the Identification, Evaluation and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Adults. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/obesity/ob_home.htm

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