Is waist size largely genetics?
Options
Mellouk89
Posts: 469 Member
I've always had a big waist for as far as I can remember, even when I was very lean I had a 32 inch waist at 1m75. Is waist size mostly hereditary and should we just ignore the number and instead focus on definition and body fat? Isn't it what matters at the end?
0
Replies
-
Well, you can't change anything about your bone structure. To give you an example: I have a fairly short abdomen and a wide pelvis. A very present waist, but I'll never get one below 75cm as there's not the space for it. If you're talking about bodyfat, then yes, you can do something about it. It will likely be slow though.4
-
You’d be surprised when you lose all the fat around your waist; how much small it is2
-
I think the OP telegraphed the answer. No, your waist size doesn't matter a whit to a weasel-- at least not to anyone else. What matters is who you are and what you do.3
-
It's mostly based on what one puts in one's mouth.6
-
sandboxfitness wrote: »You’d be surprised when you lose all the fat around your waist; how much small it is
The lowest ive ever got my waist was 31 inches and I was borderline underweight. Thats why im wondering if some people are just born with a bigger waist.3 -
I would think it does have something to do with genetics. People have different body types. Some are just more prone to storing in their waist rather than hips. I am no Dr. but that is my .024
-
I think where one stores most of his or her fat and their build is largely genetic and/or dependent on hormones.
Of course, through diet and exercise, one can reshape him or herself and those proportions can look different. For example, if someone really builds up his or her shoulders or back, his or her waist can look small in proportion.3 -
sandboxfitness wrote: »You’d be surprised when you lose all the fat around your waist; how much small it is
The lowest ive ever got my waist was 31 inches and I was borderline underweight. Thats why im wondering if some people are just born with a bigger waist.
Being under weight doesn’t mean you have low fat percentage. When you get to 6-7% body fat then evaluate your waist line3 -
6-7% body fat is not healthy at all I don't know why you would want to get down that low.9
-
-
Are you really suggesting that top level sprinters and NFL athletes are natural? You are a very naive person, and they are most likely 8-12% body fat not 6%.
You get down to 6% and you tell me about your sex drive and energy levels, get back at me.12 -
I generally think of body shape as being hereditary and not something you can really change - some of us are apples, some are pears, some are hourglass, some are other! However, I will say, for years (decades) I thought my 5'4" female body just naturally couldn't get below 150 pounds and maybe a size 10-12. What I have learned being at maintenance for a while is that my body actually seemed to settle nicely around 120-125 pounds and I now wear a size 2-4 (and I'm 48 so it's not an age thing). So I think it is largely hereditary, but I would be aware of using that as an excuse.7
-
If you have a wide pelvis and a wide rib cage, it may not be impossible to get a slim waist, but that geometry does make it less likely, particularly - as yirara says - you have a short torso. Since you're a guy, I'm assuming you're not going for hourglass anyway. For a male, seems like definition and relatively low fat ought to be possible (but I'm not going to venture into BF% estimates). Do you think it's important for a man to be below some absolute number for some reason?0
-
I'm not interested in being extremely lean, i've experienced it in the past and it felt terrible. To me 12-14% is the sweet spot. But I find that I have a bigger waist than most people who are at my weight and body fat level. So i'm wondering if it's genetics. At least i've heard that it may be genetics.
I actually have a long torso, and I would say I have pretty thick upper body.
i can post some pictures if it's allowed.2 -
I'm not interested in being extremely lean, i've experienced it in the past and it felt terrible. To me 12-14% is the sweet spot. But I find that I have a bigger waist than most people who are at my weight and body fat level. So i'm wondering if it's genetics. At least i've heard that it may be genetics.
I actually have a long torso, and I would say I have pretty thick upper body.
i can post some pictures if it's allowed.
It's allowed, as long as you're wearing at least something like a bathing suit that covers you up in a way that you could go out in public like on a regular beach. Pictures in underwear, or with waistline pulled down really far, are not allowed.3 -
When I was 160 pounds and when I am 120 pounds, I’m still a 36 inch bra size. Cup, however, has gone from a C to an A! But my rib cage is wide even at a much lower weight.3
-
I am short waisted as heck, and the top of my pelvic bones and the bottom of my ribcage are precisely, exactly, in line - and also 2" (not hyperbole) apart.
There is no body fat percentage where I'm going to have a well defined waist. An inward dip from the front, yes, gotten that, from the side? No. Where would it even BE?6 -
I don’t know about genetic, but yes, I think it pretty much stays the same big or small.
When I was small, my hips were about 4 inches larger than my bust and 15 inches larger than my waist.
When I was big, my hips were about 5 inches larger than my bust and 14 inches larger than my waist.
Probably not gonna change a lot.2 -
I think there is probably a genetic component. Even when a healthy BMI, my spouse (male) has a waist around 34". I, however, have always had a proportionally small waist for my weight (whether normal BMI or overweight or obese). On the other hand, my cankles are huge even when I'm slim.2
-
A lot of it is. I’m short and my ribs end right above my hip bones so there isn’t much room for it to dip in. Even at my lowest body fat, I had a 27 inch waist. There is no room to go any smaller for me no matter how much I lost.4
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 391.5K Introduce Yourself
- 43.5K Getting Started
- 259.7K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.6K Food and Nutrition
- 47.3K Recipes
- 232.3K Fitness and Exercise
- 392 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.4K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.5K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 152.7K Motivation and Support
- 7.8K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.3K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.2K MyFitnessPal Information
- 22 News and Announcements
- 927 Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.3K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions