Your waist size, not necessarily the number of pounds you weigh or even your body mass index may ultimately tell you if you need to lose weight. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, excess abdominal fat is a predictor of weight-related illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and some types of cancer.
Abdominal Fat
Belly fat isn't just an aesthetic problem anymore; the Harvard Medical School describes the visceral fat that resides deep in your abdomen as biologically active, releasing hormones that affect the rest of your body. Visceral fat is linked to health problems such as dementia, cardiovascular disease and breast and colon cancer. You can be at a healthy weight and still have excess abdominal fat.
BMI Problems
Your BMI is generally the most helpful tool to determine if you need to lose weight, says the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute -- but not always. A BMI of 25.0 to 29.9 suggests that you're overweight, whereas a BMI of 30.0 or more typically indicates obesity. However, your BMI doesn't tell you your fat-to-muscle ratio. Also, BMI may underestimate body fat in older individuals and those with decreased muscle mass and overestimate body fat in trained athletes and people with bigger frames. Measuring your waist size is yet another helpful screening tool that can tell you if excess body fat puts your health at risk.
Waist Size
A waist size of more than 35 inches in women and 40 inches in men suggests that you may need to taper it down a few inches. You can measure your waist using a flexible tape measure; place it around your belly, right above your hip bones, and measure after you exhale. Another way of determining if waist size puts you at risk for health-related complications is to determine your waist-to-hips ratio. Simply divide the circumference of your waist by that of your hips. According to Harvard Medical School, greater risk for health complications is associated with a WHR of more than 0.85 inches women and 0.90 inches men.
Expert Insight
Harvard Medical School advises eating a healthy, balanced diet with the right enough calories to achieve and maintain your target weight. Women should get the right amount of calcium, a mineral that may prevent visceral fat. Get enough sleep each night. Research indicates that adults who sleep five hours a night or less have more visceral fat. However, exercise is your best weapon against weight gain and abdominal fat. Thirty minutes of moderate-intense aerobic activity and strength training most days of the week reduce your risk for serious health complications later down the line.
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