Classification of obesity

An increased waist circumference in women of over 80 cm in men by about 94 cm, is considered an important risk factor for the occurrence of diseases such as coronary heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes mellitus With more than 88 cm in women and 102 cm in men there is a significantly increased risk.

Although waist circumference is related only to gender, but not on age, body size, or other individually different parameter, it allows an exploratory assessment of the statistical increase in risk due to obesity and severe obesity (obesity ), with the body mass index and the ratio well correlated belly to hip. The relationship between waist circumference and body size expresses the waist-to -height ratio.

Measurement method

When measuring the waist circumference should be observed:

• Before breakfast
• And standing shirtless, best before the mirror
• At the thickest part of the abdomen (usually about 2 cm above the navel )
• Easily exhaled