Waist Size Risks?

You've definitely decreased your risks! I'd say what the numbers are saying is that you're right there on the border--maybe barely ok, or maybe barely over. Your ticker looks like you are still trying to lose a few more pounds. I bet that'll be enough to put you decidedly on the safe side!

I went to a wellness lecture yesterday and they said that any woman with a waist above 32 inches is at greater risk for several health problems including CD and Diabetes. So since mine is 33 inches I was a bit surprised. I am 5'9" and a size 10 at 161 lbs. My BMI is normal and I don't look as if I have a large waist anymore. So stuff I read online says anything above 35" causes a higher risk and others said the ratio of height to waist should be more than 2. Mine would be 69"/33" which is 2.09. Anyone have anymore info on this and what is the best measurement for the increased risk? I guess with my weight loss I thought I was finally at a healthy weight and had assuredly decreased all my risks, but I was completely surprised.

Dr. Oz, on youtube says, your waist from your bellybutton should be half or less than your height in inches. So you are 69 inches tall so half of that is 34.5 and your waistline is 33--you are fine in that regard. You can also suck in your tummy when you measure.

I hate these sweeping generatlities that get labeled as "risk factors." It gets even more confusing when they put metrics to it. It makes it hard to seperate media hype from actual facts. I mean, I think it's messed up to apply the same standard to a 4'9" person as a 6'3" person.

I think it's best to rely on scientific measures like BMI and focus on being better than you were yesterday. At least BMI is a benchmark for yourself and you have complete control over where to set that goal. Also, If you are concened about diabetes and stuff, I think it's a good idea to have regular checkups. Blood work is the only way to verify these things (until pharmacies figures out a way to make those blood pressure kiosks more comprehensive) .

BTW, congrats on your progress!

Just to add another confusion. I was told (by the British Heart Foundation) that for women a waist measurement of more than 31.5 inches was a risk factor.

The irritating thing is, the waist size thing doesn't vary by body type, I have very narrow hips, I don't put on weight there at all, it all goes on round my waist, and I don't go in at the waist even when I am very low weight, I barely have a gap between the top of my hips and the bottom of my ribs, so there just isn't room to go it. So I have a waist size much bigger than most people with 35 inch hips. Sometimes I wish I was a pear!

I hate these sweeping generatlities that get labeled as "risk factors." It gets even more confusing when they put metrics to it. It makes it hard to seperate media hype from actual facts. I mean, I think it's messed up to apply the same standard to a 4'9" person as a 6'3" person.

I think it's best to rely on scientific measures like BMI and focus on being better than you were yesterday. At least BMI is a benchmark for yourself and you have complete control over where to set that goal. Also, If you are concened about diabetes and stuff, I think it's a good idea to have regular checkups. Blood work is the only way to verify these things (until pharmacies figures out a way to make those blood pressure kiosks more comprehensive) .

BTW, congrats on your progress!

I agree with what I think you are trying to say, stick to estabished methods. Although BMI is a very crude measure really, it does not take into account body composition or weight distribution. Waist to hip ratio is a very easy and effective tool that assess if you have an unhealthy fat distribution around you waist. I attended a lecture recently that discussed fat distribution. If you look at paintings of nude ladies from a couple of hundred years ago they have huge bums and thighs and no tummy, which is how a woman should store fat. When fat is stored on the stomach it is within the muscle and applies pressure to internal organs. On the bum and thighs it sits between the skin and muscle happily. The reason we now store fat that way is due to the differences in diet compared to then.

So to answer the OPs question as long as your tummy is smaller than it was, you are doing fantasticly well and reducing your risks every day! Work out your waist to hip ratio and monitor it.

Another interesting point from the lecture was that it is better to be fat and fit, than thin and unfit, in terms of chronic disease risk. One to keep us all going. If you keep fit you may have less chance of a heart attack or diabetis than the thin person sat next to you who doesn't!