What about body mass index?
Body mass index (BMI) has become a common gauge for our weight and future health. The NHS also highlights how BMI is a useful tool to establish whether we need to get rid of some excess weight. It takes into account lots of different variables, such as our height, age, and gender. We then get a reading that can tell us if our weight is in a healthy range. But, one important measurement that BMI doesn’t consider is our waist measurement, so it can miss whether we could be endangering our health. This is because we may fall into a healthy weight category, but still have a waist measurement that is considered unhealthy.
Why is it important?
Waist measurements above a certain level are associated with health problems, including type 2 diabetes, cancer and heart disease. The NHS says that waist measurements over 37 inches for a man and 31.5 inches for a woman means we have a higher risk of getting these conditions. It seems the risks increase with our waist size. The health body explains that when men measure 40 inches and more around the waist, and a woman’s measurement is over 34.5, then our chances of being diagnosed with those diseases rises even more. The NHS recommends losing weight to reduce our waist size if they measure over these limits and says making small changes to our lives is a good way to start losing weight. The health body recommends swapping unhealthy snacks for fruit and says we should start walking on our lunch breaks rather than sitting at our desks.