If a man has a waist circumference of more than 40 inches, he’s at risk for developing obesity-related conditions, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. According to the CDC and the USDA’s Human Nutrition program, having excess abdominal fat can put you at increased risk for conditions like diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. While a BMI (body mass index) measurement roughly estimates your overall body fat, the best way to accurately judge how much abdominal fat you’re carrying is by measuring your waist circumference. Because men don't have as defined a waist as women typically do, it's a little harder to know where the waist is. Measuring at the correct point on a man's body will give you an accurate waist measurement.
Step 1
Dress in comfortable clothing that can be rolled or slid down far enough to completely bare your abdomen down to the hip bones; this includes underwear. Lower the clothing as necessary to facilitate the measuring process.
Step 2
Locate the upper edge of your hipbones by feel. Wrap a flexible measuring tape around your abdomen just above the upper edge of your hipbones. The tape should be parallel to the ground, not slanted; stand in front of a mirror or have a friend help you to make sure the tape is oriented correctly.
Step 3
Take a deep breath in, exhale normally, and make sure the tape is snug against your skin but not tight. Note the measurement on the tape; this is your waist circumference.
Tips and Warnings
- Taking periodic waist measurements is a useful way of gauging whether you're gaining or losing abdominal fat.
Things You'll Need
- Flexible tape measure
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