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| Waist size |
Waist size is also a useful guide to overweight. The distribution of body fat in different parts of the body varies from person to person.
In general, women are more likely to deposit fat on their hips and thighs, while men are more likely to have more fat in their abdomen (around their middle). Fat around the
middle is more likely to increase the risk of heart disease. People with an apple shape (fatness around the waist and stomach) have a greater risk of heart disease than
pear-shaped people (fatness around the hips).
Because people come in many different shapes it can be difficult deciding where to measure the waist, and the waistline of clothes can be very low or quite high. The
simplest way of deciding where to measure the waist is by measuring around the body 2.5cm (1 inch) above the navel.
Women
For women, a waist size over 80cm (32 inches) indicates an increased risk to health, and over 88cm (35 inches) indicates a substantial risk to health.
Men
For men, a waist size over 94 cm (37 inches) indicates an increased risk to health, and over 102 cm (40 inches) indicates a substantial risk to health. |
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