Weight or Waist Size - which is best measurement for Health?

Adventure9

Weight can be a frustrating measurement because as we exercise more, muscles become more dense. And, muscles add weight. Is waist measurement a better true indicator of health?

refinedredbird

I think measurements are more important than weight because there are many factors that lead to the number on the scale, not fat alone. Measurements show you fat loss and muscle gain.

RoadsterGirlie

I would say waist size. Studies have been done with body types, and apple/banana shapes are more at risk for heart disease than pear shapes. I'm a banana, and the first place I put weight on is on my stomach, so I have to be careful.

That's not to say that if you're a pear shaped woman weighing 250 that you are automatically healthy. You just might be slightly less at risk than an apple shaped woman also weighing 250.

cwolfman13

measurements and BF%. By BMI standards I'm overweight...I'm buy no means a body builder, but I do have some decent muscle...I'm at a healthy BF%, but my muscle mass puts me over weight by BMI standards.

That said, I'm at the high end of healthy BF% for my height so dropping probably another 5 cosmetic Lbs or so would probably put me at the high end of BMI as well and probably around 15% BF...but due to my muscle mass I could never get into the low end of my BMI range...I'd have to burn about 10-15 Lbs of muscle (not fat) and that would just be insanely stupid...and I'd be a toothpick.