For your best health, your waist should be less than 40 inches around for men, and less than 35 inches for women, although it may vary depending on race or ethnicity. If it's larger than that, you may want to talk with your doctor about what your next steps are, including losing weight.
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.
Now that you've measured your waist circumference you need to know what it means. 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.
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.)
A woman's health is at risk if her waist circumference is 32 inches or more. A measurement of 35 or more puts you at high risk for a heart attack or stroke. People with a high level of abdominal fat have a much higher chance of developing cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.
between 18.5 and 24.9, you're at lowest risk of developing health problems. between 25 and 29.9, you're considered overweight. 30 or more, you're considered obese.
The average waist size for American women is 35.6 inches. That means a 30 inch waist would put you in the 15th percentile among most females, which is quite a bit smaller than average. However, it's important to remember that 3 out of 4 adult women in the US are overweight or obese.
Healthy women have ratios of 0.67 to 0.80 while healthy men have 0.80 to 0.95. For attractiveness, ideal for men is 0.90 and female ideal is 0.7 (for Western populations only). WHR increases with each pregnancy and increases slightly with age.
Waist Circumference
If most of your fat is around your waist rather than at your hips, you're at a higher risk for heart disease and type 2 diabetes. This risk goes up with a waist size that is greater than 35 inches for women or greater than 40 inches for men.
Your waistline may be telling you that you have a higher risk of developing obesity-related conditions if you are1: A man whose waist circumference is more than 40 inches. A non-pregnant woman whose waist circumference is more than 35 inches.
Cathie Jung (born 1937) is an American Victorian dress and corset enthusiast residing in Manteo, NC, United States. She has held the Guinness World Record for the smallest waist on a living person since 1999. Jung, who is 1.72 meters (5 ft 8 in) tall, has a waist that measures 38.1 centimeters (15.0 in).
The slim hip type is for women whose hip measurement is either 3.5 cm (1.4 inches) smaller or up to 1 cm (0.4 inches) larger than her bust measurement. The average hip type is for a woman whose hip measurement is 2.5 cm (1 inch) to 8 cm (3.1 inches) larger than her bust measurement.
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.
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.
A waist circumference of greater than 40 inches for men and greater than 35 inches for women is considered indicative of abdominal obesity. It carries with it increased risk for: Heart disease.
No, size 8 is not considered fat. Size 8 is considered an average size for women, depending on the individual's height.
Aerobic exercise.
Do at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity five or more days per week. Better yet, strive to get 45 to 60 minutes each day. Even if you don't lose weight with aerobics, you can lose visceral fat as well as gain muscle mass.
Scientists have found that the most attractive female figure has a waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) of 0.7.
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).
If you ask yourself, what size is a 30 inch waist in women's jeans, then use this chart to find out that it corresponds to a US Size 12 or EU 40.
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.
28-Inch Waist for Women
The average waist size for American women is 35.6 inches. That means a 28-inch waist would put you between the 5th and 10th percentiles, which is considerably smaller than average. However, it's important to remember that 3 out of 4 adult women in the US are overweight or obese.