Waist circumference to assess body weight

Waist circumference is a good indicator of total body fat, as well as central adiposity, which confers a greater cardiometabolic risk than fat on the thighs and buttocks. In people older than 65, higher waist circumference is a predictor of decreased survival, but higher BMI is not. The waist circumferences at which cardiometabolic risk is increased in different populations are outlined in Waist circumference at which cardiometabolic risk is increased.

To measure waist circumference, place a stretch-resistant measuring tape midway between the lower rib margin and the top of the iliac crest. Ask the patient to stand with arms relaxed by their side, and take the measurement at the end of a normal exhalation.

Table 1. Waist circumference at which cardiometabolic risk is increased
	Increased risk [NB1]	Substantially increased risk [NB1]
males	Caucasian: 94 cm South Asian, Chinese or Japanese: 90 cm	102 cm
females	80 cm	88 cm
Note: NB1: Except where otherwise specified, these figures are for a population of European origin. Higher cut-off values may be considered in Pacific peoples and lower cut-offs may be considered for Aboriginal malesWorld Health Organization (WHO), 2011.