Health Measurements: Belly Fat

Where you carry extra weight makes a difference. Gaining weight mostly in the belly puts you at greater risk for disease. It’s easy to check your waist measurement with a simple tape measure. Good news: as you get fit, belly fat is usually the first to go!

What is it?

Where do you tend to store fat—around your stomach area or hips and thighs? Where you carry excess weight is important in determining your risk for certain diseases.

Why is it included?

Your waist size indicates if you have extra fat in and around your internal organs. Excess belly fat seems to increase overall inflammation and blood levels of hormones like insulin as well as blood sugar and LDL, AKA "Lousy" blood cholesterol.  These are serious and together can increase risk for type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.

How is it measured?

To measure your waist size (also called circumference), place a tape measure around your bare belly just above your hip bone. Be sure that the tape is snug, but does not compress your skin, and is parallel to the floor. Relax, exhale, and measure your waist.

Don’t have a tape measure? An easy way to determine if you carry more fat around your mid section than the rest of your body is simply by looking in the mirror. Each of us can be classified by either of two different body shapes—apples or pears. Apple-shaped bodies carry more body fat around the middle (i.e. belly, chest and surrounding internal organs, such as the heart). Pear-shaped bodies carry more body fat around the hips and thighs. The apple body shape is linked with health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, stroke, high blood pressure and gall bladder disease.

Ranges

A waist measurement of more than 40 inches for men and more than 35 inches for women means you may have a higher risk of developing obesity-related conditions.

Additional Resources

Belly Fat/Waist Measurement FAQs
Waist Circumference Tool (NIH)