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Measuring waist circumference can indicate health risks associated with obesity, including heart disease and diabetes. A flexible tape measure should be used to measure the natural waist, and dangerous measurements are generally considered to be 35 inches or more for women and 40 inches or more for men. Combining waist circumference with body mass index can determine the highest probability of developing life-threatening diseases. Gradual, sustainable behavior changes are recommended to reduce waist measurement and associated health risks.
Waist circumference is the measurement around the waist that can indicate whether people are at risk for certain diseases often associated with obesity. This isn’t the only indication of too much body fat, but it can be an easy estimate of whether people should consider losing weight. The potential results of having a waist circumference higher than what is considered healthy are manifold and include increased risks of developing heart disease, high blood pressure, or becoming a type II diabetic.
To get an accurate waist circumference measurement, people will need a flexible tape measure. People need to measure their natural waist, which is generally the narrowest part of the waist, slightly above the belly button (belly button). The tape measure is not a constriction device, and the goal of the measurement is not to squeeze the tape measure into the skin as much as possible to obtain the lowest reading. Another common strategy is to draw in your breath and hold it, resulting in a smaller reading. For better accuracy, measure freely and breathe normally.
Medical experts generally define dangerous waist circumference as 35 inches (88.9 cm) or more for women and 40 inches (101.6 cm) or more for men. As noted above, these readings are associated with a higher incidence of heart disease, type II diabetes, and high blood pressure, which raises the risk of stroke. Even people who fall slightly below these measurements can be considered at higher risk because it is easy to gain, especially as the years go by and particularly if the habits that promote this degree of belly fat around the waist don’t change.
When doctors or others look at waist circumference, they often compare it to the body mass index (BMI) to determine what the two should look like together medically. A higher BMI, along with the danger zone waist circumference, are considered particularly difficult problems that represent the highest probability of developing life-threatening diseases. Because the BMI can be calculated with fairly basic information and measuring the waist is easy, most people won’t need to visit their doctor to determine if their weight puts them at risk.
If people find they are dangerously at risk for waist measurement, it is important to get medical or nutritional help. Finding a way to alter the diet so that the measurement slowly but surely decreases can be a great way to improve health. Doctors or dietitians usually recommend changes in diet and exercise. Trying to lose weight quickly with fad diets is generally not considered ideal because many people quickly regain the weight they lose this way. The goal is to gradually reduce waist measurement, and therefore the risk of certain diseases, through sustainable behavior changes.
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