For men, a waist circumference below 94cm (37in) is 'low risk', 94–102cm (37-40in) is 'high risk' and more than 102cm (40in) is 'very high'. For women, below 80cm (31.5in) is low risk, 80–88cm (31.5-34.6in) is high risk and more than 88cm (34.6in) is very high.
Extra-Small (XS): 32-35 inches. Small (S): 36-38 inches. Medium (M): 39-41 inches. Large (L): 42-44 inches.
To have your best chance at maintaining good health, you should aim for: Men should have a waist circumference of 40 inches or less. Women should have a waist circumference of 35 inches or less.
Ideal waistline measurement
According to the Heart Foundation, a healthy waistline size is: 37 inches or less for men. 31.5 inches or less for women.
Waist-to-height ratio.
— your height. Ideally, your waist measurement should be less than half of your height. (So if you're 5 foot 6, or 66 inches, your waist circumference should be less than 33 inches.)
Today, the average American woman is 5'4″, has a waist size of 34-35 inches and weighs between 140-150 lbs, with a dress size of 12-14. Fifty years ago, the average woman was 5'3-4″ with a waist size of approximately 24-25″, she weighed about 120 lbs and wore a size 8.
First, what's less than ideal? A waist circumference of greater than 40 inches for men and greater than 35 inches for women is "considered elevated and indicative of increased cardiometabolic (heart disease-related) risk," said Craig Peters, DO, an HonorHealth cardiologist.
The average waist circumference for women aged 18 and over in 2017–18 was 88 cm (ABS 2018). A high-risk waist circumference is more common in older women. In 2017–18 (ABS 2019): around 4 in 5 women aged 75 and over (84%) had a high risk waist circumference.
Likewise, models can be older but agencies and clients tend to like their models looking younger and more youthful. Height is typically between 5'9″-6″, bust is between 32″-36″, waist is between 22″-26″, and hips should be between 33″-35″.
Generally speaking, a 34-inch waist is fairly average for males or females.
But the average woman aged 20 to 24 in the country is 1.6m tall and has a waist size of 28 inches and hip size of 36 inches, according to the Korea Agency for Technology and Standards in 2015.
What should your waist measurement be? For men, a waist circumference below 94cm (37in) is 'low risk', 94–102cm (37-40in) is 'high risk' and more than 102cm (40in) is 'very high'. For women, below 80cm (31.5in) is low risk, 80–88cm (31.5-34.6in) is high risk and more than 88cm (34.6in) is very high.
What size is a 35 inch waist? A 35-inch waist typically corresponds to a US dress size of 18. Additionally, this waist circumference should put you in an international size XL for other women's clothing.
The average Australian woman was 161.8 cm tall and weighed 71.1 kg. On average, Australians are growing taller and heavier over time. Between 1995 and 2011-12, the average height for men increased by 0.8 cm and for women by 0.4 cm, while the average weight for men increased by 3.9 kg and for women by 4.1 kg.
30-inch hips, the ratio becomes 34/30 = 1.13, which indicates a high health risk. 35-inch hips, the ratio becomes 34/35 = 0.97, which indicates a moderate health risk. 37-inch hips, the ratio becomes 34/37 = 0.91, which indicates a low health risk.
Men should have a waist to hip ratio slightly under a 1.0 - a . 99 according to this study. Women should have a waist to hip ratio under 1.0 - a . 90 or lower.
The specific proportions of 36–24–36 inches (90-60-90 centimeters) have frequently been given as the "hourglass" proportions for women since at least the 1960s (these measurements are, for example, the title of a hit instrumental by The Shadows).
There are no specific measurements that define a curvy body type, as all female bodies are unique. However, some examples include 42-38-46, 36-34-42 or 34-24-38, where the numbers represent “breast-waist-hip” measurements.
The Average Size for Women in America
The average size of an American woman has historically been reported as a size 14. The clothing industry somewhat took this into account and adjusted its sizes. Though, most labels didn't even do that; the majority of clothing lines still sell up to size 12 and that's it.
A combination of things happens as we age. We tend to lose muscle mass, so our abdominal muscles aren't as tight as they once were, and the loss of elastin and collagen in our skin allows gravity to have its way so skin starts to sag. Both can cause the waistline to expand.