When was the last time you measured your waist? It might be more important than you think.
Your waist measurement can reveal more than whether your jeans still fit — it can actually indicate your risk of serious health issues.
Your waistline reveals where your body stores fat
The size of your waist tells you how much fat sits around your abdomen — both the fat you can see and the hidden fat deep inside your belly.
Visceral fat is the invisible threat
Some fat, called visceral fat, surrounds your internal organs. It’s strongly linked to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes.
A larger waist can harm your organs
Too much fat around your organs, especially the liver, can lead to it releasing excess fat and sugar into your bloodstream, increasing the risk of heart disease and diabetes.
A larger waist increases diabetes risk
Excess abdominal fat affects your body’s ability to manage blood sugar — which could lead to the development of type 2 diabetes.
Waist size gives better health clues than BMI
BMI isn’t always a reliable indicator of health. Measuring your waist in relation to your height gives a clearer picture of health risks.
Your waist-to-height ratio is the key
To understand your health risk, divide your waist size by your height. A higher ratio means a higher level of abdominal fat — and a greater health risk.
How to measure your waist correctly
Find the point halfway between your ribs and hips (usually just above the belly button).
Wrap a tape measure around your waist, exhale naturally, and note the measurement.
What the numbers mean
If your waist-to-height ratio is 0.6 or higher, you’re at high risk. A ratio of 0.5–0.59 means increased risk. A ratio between 0.4 and 0.49 is considered healthy.
No tape measure? Use the string trick
Measure your height with a piece of string and fold it in half. Try wrapping it around your waist.
If it doesn’t go all the way around, it may mean your waist size is too large.
Your waist can help you prevent disease
Monitoring your waist size and acting on it can reduce your risk of serious health problems like heart disease and stroke — and improve your overall well-being.
This article is based on information from British Heart Foundation.