The scale has not moved, so you reassure yourself that nothing has changed.

But your waistline is telling a different story.

Your weight can remain the same while the amount and location of body fat change. Fat stored deep inside the abdomen, around the organs, is associated with a higher risk of high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke.

This health information is important because your bathroom scale may miss this.

A simple screening rule for many adults is:

Try to keep your waist measurement below half your height.

If you are 170 cm tall, half your height is 85 cm. Aim for a waist below 85 cm.

If you are 5 feet 6 inches tall, your height is 66 inches. Aim for a waist below 33 inches.

To measure your waist:

• Stand with your abdomen relaxed
• Find the midpoint between your lowest rib and the top of your hip bone
• Place the tape around this point and keep it level
• Make it snug without pulling it tightly
• Take the measurement after breathing out normally

Record the number so you can compare it over time.

If your waist is increasing, have your blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol checked. Speak with a health professional about gradual changes that are realistic for you.

Waist measurement is a screening tool. It does not diagnose a disease. And please note that this rule is not intended for pregnancy 😄

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