Waist Circumference

Waist circumference is a simple but effective measure of central obesity, assessing the amount of abdominal fat a person carries. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), individuals with a high waist circumference are at an increased risk of developing obesity-related conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease. The established risk thresholds are greater than 102 cm (40 inches) for men and greater than 88 cm (35 inches) for women. Unlike BMI, it directly evaluates fat distribution.