Health professionals use the Body Mass Index, or BMI, and waist circumference to assess your risk for developing chronic diseases such as Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. To lower your risk of developing these conditions, keep your BMI below 27 and your waist circumference less than 35 inches if you are a woman or 40 inches if you are a man.
BMI Values and Health Risk
The Centers for Disease control classify a of BMI less than 18.5 as underweight, between 19 and 24.9 as normal weight, between 25 and 29.9 as overweight, and above 30 as obese. Risk for chronic diseases begins to increase significantly above a BMI of 27. Losing weight can help you lower your BMI and decrease your risk of heart disease and Type 2 diabetes.
Waist Circumference and Health Risk
Waist circumference, a simple measurement around your waist just above your belly button, is an indicator of how much fat you carry in your midsection. According to the National Institutes of Health, risk of developing chronic diseases increases for men with a waist circumference over 40 inches and for women with a waist circumference over 35 inches.The larger your waist circumference beyond these values, the higher your risk for chronic diseases, regardless of BMI.
Differences Between BMI and Waist Circumference
Both BMI and waist circumference are measures of how much fat you carry on your body and as BMI increases so can waist circumference. However, BMI takes into account all regions of the body whereas waist circumference measures only body fat in the midsection. Both measures are independent indicators of obesity and subsequent health risks. Clinicians utilize BMI more often than waist circumference, yet waist circumference may be a better indicator of your risk for Type 2 diabetes than BMI.
Limitations of BMI and Waist Circumference
Scientists calculated the normal ranges for BMI and waist circumference from western populations in North America and Europe. A recent study found that Chinese men with the same BMI and waist circumference measurements as their western counterparts are at higher risk for heart disease and diabetes. BMI and waist circumference recommendations do not currently consider possible deviations between people of different ethnicities. The BMI may underestimate body fat in older adults and over-estimate body fat in athletic populations. Lastly, BMI and waist circumference measurements are not appropriate for pregnant or lactating women.
References
- "Krause's Food, Nutrition, and Diet Therapy: Therapy," 11th Ed.; Dietary and Clinical Assessment; Kathleen Hammond; 2004
- Centers for Disease Control: Assessing Your Weight
- "Family Practice;" Waist Circumference Measurement: Knowledge, Attitudes and Barriers in Patients and Practitioners in a Multi-Ethnic Population; Dunkley et al.; July 2009
- "The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition;" Comparison of Abdominal Adiposity and Overall Obesity in Predicting Risk of Type 2 Diabetes Among Men; Wang et al.; March 2005
- "The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition;" Are Waist Circumference and Body Mass Index Independently Associated with Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Chinese Adults?; Wildman et al.; December 2005
- National Institutes of Health: Obesity Education Initiative Electronic Textbook: Treatment Guidelines: Assessment and Classification: Classification: According to Waist Circumference
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