waist should be less than half your height

Sabine_Stroehm

Mine should be 32?

Less than 32. So your preference is fine.

Exactly

lemurcat12

nevermind, just deleting my post. I guess I have a weird body shape. lol

Sounds like you have an hourglass or pear, which is probably better for health purposes than being more of an apple, and not weird.

The way my insurance company does it is that it's considered unhealthy to be obese, period, and if you are overweight it's considered unhealthy if your waist is more than half your height, because fat around your middle tends to be more of a health concern than fat on your rear, thighs, hips, breasts, etc.

There are also just different builds that affect measurements beyond fat. Even when I'm really thin I'm more straight up and down (though with breasts), just because of being high-waisted and not really carrying fat around my hips and rear. (I don't care for this, which is why I'm hoping strength-training will help.)

Deipneus

Same for men and women? I didn't t expect that. Mine is less-than-half but I still say the mirror test is best: If I look fat, I'm fat.

meaganlael

All the more motivation to work on whittling down my waist, then.... about 12 inches (a bit of a long way, but that's no surprise) to go!

lisalsd1

I'm under half in the waist. If they come out and say your hips have to be lower; well, I'm in trouble, b/c there's a 10 inch difference between my waist and hips. Yeah, I'm all butt and thigh.

Sabine_Stroehm

Same for men and women? I didn't t expect that. Mine is less-than-half but I still say the mirror test is best: If I look fat, I'm fat.

Can the mirror predict life expectancy? Maybe.

stillhere1981

A 34" wait would make me look very thick in the middle. I'm at 31" in and I'd like to get closer to 29" if possible.

Sabine_Stroehm

A 34" wait would make me look very thick in the middle. I'm at 31" in and I'd like to get closer to 29" if possible.

But a less than 34 inch waist (assuming you're 68" tall) predicts health and a longer life span.

The article isn't about ideal weight, just health.

So yes, your 31" and preferred 29" would be great.

penny0919

I'd like to know this too. After three kids and having 30 lbs to lose my lower abdomen is about 4-5 inches bigger than my natural waist.

stillhere1981

A 34" wait would make me look very thick in the middle. I'm at 31" in and I'd like to get closer to 29" if possible.

But a less than 34 inch waist (assuming you're 68" tall) predicts health and a longer life span.

The article isn't about ideal weight, just health.

So yes, your 31" and preferred 29" would be great.

I sure hope that's true!

I guess having all that junk in my trunk isn't so bad (42" hips)!

Sabine_Stroehm

I'd like to know this too. After three kids and having 30 lbs to lose my lower abdomen is about 4-5 inches bigger than my natural waist.

Like to know...what?

Eudoxy

I know they say waist, but do they mean waist (as in the natural waist) or belly? If they mean waist, I'm close. If they mean belly, not so much...

Like to know this? I'm wondering too, does anyone know?

Sabine_Stroehm

I know they say waist, but do they mean waist (as in the natural waist) or belly? If they mean waist, I'm close. If they mean belly, not so much...

Like to know this? I'm wondering too, does anyone know?

I assume they used the pretty standard approach:

http://www.wikihow.com/Measure-Your-Waist

dopeysmelly

I've been tracking waist/height ratio as one of my metrics to track progress. It's easier than trying to estimate body fat %, isn't subjective like absolute body measurements/dress size and doesn't vary by how much sodium I consumed or how much I exercised the day before like a scale weight.

The absolute waist circumference is a useful indicator as well, but it depends on racial heritage/genetics, so probably isn't as useful for mixed populations. The UK government isn't the only one to have a target waist circumference as a measure of health. China does as well.

carolineat111

I wonder if that's actually right. I'm 5'10" (so 70 inches) and so that's 35 inches. My waist is 29 inches (at navel, not smallest part) and I expect it'll get another inch or two smaller...

Sabine_Stroehm

I wonder if that's actually right. I'm 5'10" (so 70 inches) and so that's 35 inches. My waist is 29 inches (at navel, not smallest part) and I expect it'll get another inch or two smaller...

It's NOT a diet equation! READ the article lol.

Eudoxy

I know they say waist, but do they mean waist (as in the natural waist) or belly? If they mean waist, I'm close. If they mean belly, not so much...

Like to know this? I'm wondering too, does anyone know?

I assume they used the pretty standard approach:

http://www.wikihow.com/Measure-Your-Waist

Thanks! In the pictures she was going a little low, but it said "it will be the narrowest part of your torso", so I'm going with that. I'm 5'8" with 32" waist so fine I guess, but my waist has never been my problem.

ThePhoenixIsRising

Soo for me that's under 35", even when I was over weight(40#'s ago) my waist was under that. Guess I am lucky and have healthier fat distribution genetics.

eplerd

I guess I've got quite a ways to go still at a 0.625 Ht/Weight ratio

I WAS on the way to making them MATCH if I had not made some severe changes!!

From a MEASURED waist (over naval) of 51.5" down to around 40" so far!!
At the rate I'm going I need to revisit my retirement savings - gonna need LOTS MORE MONEY as I'll live longer!!

minimalistmom

I'm good to go. I'm only an inch or two off.

ROBOTFOOD

I'm good.
Height 72in
Waist 28in

xRedRockerx

At 5'2" I need less than 31 inches. I only ever hit 31 inches once and that was when I had a month-long binge. I prefer going by my waist/hip ratio, but this is good to know!

VorJoshigan

I'm nowhere near any of my goals, but the the research I've seen definitely indicate that waist is a better measure than BMI.

katharineshalia

Great, just 8 inches to go, sigh...

Eudoxy

I'm nowhere near any of my goals, but the the research I've seen definitely indicate that waist is a better measure than BMI.

In terms of health, yes. I think it has to do with fat or pressure around the organs.

Need2Exerc1se

I know they say waist, but do they mean waist (as in the natural waist) or belly? If they mean waist, I'm close. If they mean belly, not so much...

Like to know this? I'm wondering too, does anyone know?

I'm not sure what you mean by natural waist vs belly, but one of the articles I saw defined waist as between the lowest rib and the top of the thigh bone. Which is what I would think of as both the natural waist and belly, though it may or may not be the smallest point, depending on how you are built.

fitfreakymom

Great, just 8 inches to go, sigh...

could be worse, it could be 9 or 10 inch's to go so chin up and keep truckin along.

Eudoxy

I know they say waist, but do they mean waist (as in the natural waist) or belly? If they mean waist, I'm close. If they mean belly, not so much...

Like to know this? I'm wondering too, does anyone know?

I'm not sure what you mean by natural waist vs belly, but one of the articles I saw defined waist as between the lowest rib and the top of the thigh bone. Which is what I would think of as both the natural waist and belly, though it may or may not be the smallest point, depending on how you are built.

Natural waist is the smallest part (where it creases when you bend to the side), it's between your belly button and ribs. Drop waist, often used for clothing measurements, is about an inch and a half below natural waist, and probably closer to what is meant by "belly".

canadjineh

Yeah, that might work if you are an apple shape, but even at my heaviest my waist was still showing my height at 4 inches too short. lol. Right now at maintenance goal I'd be 4'1" tall instead of 5'8". So, no, this is kind of a useless measurement.

kkimpel

omg.. I'm finally below someone's ideal for weight.. woo ho.. yea me