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Waist Circumference

Waist Circumference (WC) measurement is useful for adults who are categorized as normal or overweight. For individuals with BMI ≥ 35 kg/m² (Obesity Classes II and III), WC measurement adds little to the predictive power of BMI.

WC is measured by wrapping a tape measure in a horizontal plane around the abdomen at the level of the iliac crest.

Increased risk of comorbidities¹⁰:

Men: WC > 40 inches
Women: WC > 35 inches

Increased WC is often a sign of intra-abdominal fat which can be more dangerous than subcutaneous fat.^47,56 Intra-abdominal fat increases glucose production leading to an excess in insulin levels, which may result in diabetes, high blood pressure, unhealthy cholesterol levels, and heart disease.⁴⁷

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Reference

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Reference

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Waist Circumference

Increased risk of comorbidities¹⁰:

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Waist Circumference

Increased risk of comorbidities10:

Increased risk of comorbidities¹⁰: