Measuring waist circumference is a common method to assess belly fat and obesity. It can be used to track progress in weight loss programs, but may not be accurate for everyone. Body fat percentage calculators can provide more accurate results. Changes in abdominal measurements can also be caused by pregnancy or health issues.
The term waist circumference is usually used to refer to measuring the circumference around the abdomen. This measurement is typically taken at the navel level to ensure that measurements over time are taken consistently at the same spot. Sometimes, however, the measurement is taken at the waist, which is the narrowest point of the bust. A person’s circumference can change throughout their life due to factors such as weight gain or loss, pregnancy, and certain diseases.
Many doctors and fitness professionals recommend measuring waist circumference to assess the amount of belly fat present. High levels of belly fat are linked to diabetes and heart disease. Obese individuals are more likely to have a large abdominal circumference than non-obese people, so abdominal circumference measurement is sometimes used as one of the methods for measuring obesity.
People on diet and exercise programs often have trouble judging whether or not the program is working when their total body weight, measured on a scale, doesn’t show a dramatic change. This may be due in part to the development of lean muscle mass, which can cause an individual to weigh more even though they have lost body fat. One of the ways to measure the success of a weight loss plan is to record body measurements, including abdominal measurements, over time and judge whether they are decreasing as the weight loss plan progresses. Sometimes, however, waist circumference may not be the most accurate way to determine fat levels. Many women tend to store fat around their hips rather than their abdomen, and some people have thicker layers of muscle around their torso.
Many body fat percentage calculators improve accuracy by using various body measurements, including waist circumference, to calculate how much of an individual’s body is composed of fat relative to lean body mass. This can be a very useful way to determine the effectiveness of a diet and exercise program. Smaller measurements in relation to total body weight generally indicate a loss of body fat and an increase or maintenance of lean body mass, which is often the goal of many fat loss programs.
There are reasons other than fat gain or loss that a person’s abdominal measurements can change. The circumference of a pregnant woman’s abdomen will increase as the fetus develops. An increase in waist circumference can also be an indicator of liver or intestinal problems. It is also a method of measuring gas and bloating in people who have abdominal discomfort.
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