To find your waist circumference, stand up straight, relax your stomach muscles, hold a cloth tape measure at the level of your navel and circle your waist with it. The tape measure should lay snug (not pulled tight) against the skin.
Reference ranges for waist circumference and BMI ratio and risk of disease in women:
|
BMI Classification
|
BMI
|
Disease Risk
|
Waist Less than 35"
|
Waist Greater than 35"
|
|
Underweight
|
Less 18.5
|
Low
|
Low
|
Increased**
|
|
Normal
|
18.5 - 24.9
|
Low
|
Low
|
Increased**
|
|
Overweight
|
25.0 - 29.9
|
Moderate
|
Increased
|
High
|
|
Obese
|
Greater 30.0
|
High
|
High
|
Very High
|
** Increased waist circumference can also be a marker for increased risk even in people of normal weight