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.
For a female, a 24-inch waist is smaller than 99% of women, even among fit people. So indeed, it's a rare feat to achieve such a tiny waist measurement. Still, that's not to say it's impossible.
28-Inch Waist for Women
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. So you might not want to compare yourself to the general population.
In fact, a 20-inch waist (or a 50-cm waist) is extremely small and rare even among tiny women.
For women, a 30 inch waist is roughly 6″ smaller than the average female. So this would definitely be a good target if you're trying to improve your overall health and wellness.
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.
US 10 - either UK 12 (Waist 29”/30" and Bust 37”/38") or UK 14 (Waist 31”/32" and Bust 39”/40") US 12 - approximately UK 14 (Waist 31”/32" and Bust 39”/40") US 14 - approximately UK 16 (Waist 33"/34" and Bust 41"/42") US 16 - approximately UK 18 (Waist 35”/36" and Bust 43”/44")
At 20 inches, Ioana Spangenberg's waist is just five inches bigger than a compact disc. She was profiled in The Sun UK recently, where they shared that the 30-year-old Romanian model eats three square meals a day (including indulgences like pizza and kebabs) and simply can't gain weight around her midsection.
This risk goes up with a waist size that is greater than 35 inches for women or greater than 40 inches for men. To correctly measure your waist, stand and place a tape measure around your middle, just above your hipbones. Measure your waist just after you breathe out.
Generally speaking, a 22-inch waist is very small. And most people would consider this a skinny waist size. That said, whether your waist looks small depends on your overall body size and proportions. In addition, having a slim waist doesn't automatically make you healthy.
For women, a 27-inch waist is roughly 9″ smaller than the average female's. And even among fit women, a 27-inch waist is on the small side. So it's a good target for overall health and fitness. However, your ideal waist size depends on your body type and height.
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).
These increases correspond with the increasing trend in the proportion of Australians who are overweight or obese as measured using Body Mass Index. See Overweight and Obesity. On average, men aged 18 years and over had a waist measurement of 97.9 cm, while women had a waist measurement of 87.7 cm.
There isn't a defined “healthy” waist size, per se. Instead, the focus is on keeping it less than 40 inches for men and 35 inches for women.
Runway or Catwalk Model
Their measurements are usually no greater than 34 inches around the bust, 23 inches around the waist, and 34 inches around the hips.
If you can keep your waist circumference to less than half of your height, you will reduce your risk for stroke, heart disease and diabetes. For people under 40, a waist to height ratio of over 0.5 can be critical, while for people between 40 and 50 years of age, the critical value is between 0.5 and 0.6.
For example, a 29-inch waistline is normal for physically fit women. In contrast, it's much less likely for even thin men to have this small of a waist.
The average Victoria's Secret model has a 23.6-inch waist, an inch less than 20 years ago, and their hips average 34.4 inches, according to The Globe.
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 person who currently holds the world's record for the smallest waist is an English woman named Ethel Granger, who had only a 13 inch waist. Su Niang might not beat the old champion, but it's worth noting that Ethel's waist was the result of wearing a corset 24/7.
The current Guinness World Record holder for the world's smallest waist is Ethel Granger, of the UK, whose waist measured 13 inches. The record was set in 1939. However, Su has undergone a lifetime of 'waist training' by wearing corsets on a regular basis to shape her torso.