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WAIST MEASUREMENT
Equipment:
- Tape measure – tailor style
Testing procedure:
Measure the waist girth at the mid-way point between the lowest rib and the top of the iliac crest (hip bone) and record in centimetres.
WAIST TO HIP MEASUREMENT
It is well documented that carrying an excess of body fat is a significant health risk, however, the distribution of body fat is also an important consideration. People who have greater deposits of fat around the abdominal area have an increased riskof Coronary Heart Disease and Diabetes, compared to those who have equal amounts of fat, but which is deposited at the extremities.
Figure 1 - Position of the Tape Measure for Waist Measurement
MEASURING TAPE POSITION FOR WAIST (ABDOMINAL) CIRCUMFERENCE
A measurement which is associated with this risk is the Waist to Hip ratio;
Waist to Hip ratio = circumference of waist – circumference of hips
The measurements of Waist and Hips should be taken as described in the Anthropometric Section
Interpretation of results:
The number given by the equation above is then used to highlight those subjects a greater risk of Coronary Heart Disease and Diabetes.
The risk increased for Males whose waist/hips is greater than 0.985 and for females greater than 0.85.
WAIST TO HIP MEASUREMENT
It is well documented that carrying an excess of body fat is a significant health risk, however, the distribution of body fat is also an important consideration. People who have greater deposits of fat around the abdominal area have an increased riskof Coronary Heart Disease and Diabetes, compared to those who have equal amounts of fat, but which is deposited at the extremities.
A measurement which is associated with this risk is the Waist to Hip ratio;
Waist to Hip ratio = circumference of waist – circumference of hips
The measurements of Waist and Hips should be taken as described in the Anthropometric Section
Interpretation of results:
The number given by the equation above is then used to highlight those subjects a greater risk of Coronary Heart Disease and Diabetes.
The risk increased for Males whose waist/hips is greater than 0.985 and for females greater than 0.85.
