Your weight alone is not the best indicator of whether you face potential health problems because you are obese or overweight. Instead, you need to determine how much fat you carry on your body. Your body mass index is a well-known means to determine body fat, but the best indicator of whether your body fat contributes to health risks is to measure your waist circumference, the University of Illinois McKinley Health Center reports. That's because having excess abdominal fat increases your risk for chronic conditions such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
Step 1
Unbutton your pants or pull down your pants to your abdomen so your hip bones are exposed.
Step 2
Unroll a tape measure and wrap it around your waist, so that it sits just above your hip bones, the Weight-control Information Network advises.
Step 3
Pull the tape measure around your waist. It should fit snugly, but it should not dig into or push the skin, the University of Illinois McKinley Health Center advises.
Step 4
Exhale normally before taking the measurement. Do not suck your breath in during the measurement or you will get an inaccurate reading.
Step 5
Grasp the tape measure with your finger at the point at which the two ends meet. The inch count at this spot equals your waist circumference, notes the Weight-control Information Network. Waist circumferences in excess of 35 inches for women and 40 inches for men indicate an increased risk for chronic diseases.
Tips and Warnings
- Make sure you have the side of the tape measure that gives measurements in inches facing outward so it is easier to determine your waist circumference.
Things You'll Need
- Tape measure
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