BMI (Body Mass Index) this was the ratio of weight–to-height –this was considered the best way to judge your health risk, accessing your risk in general to things like heart disease and diabetes. Getting your BMI within a certain range was seen as a must.

However, today things have changed – it is no longer weight but waist-to-height-ratio that is measured. Recent studies have shown this to be a better indicator than the BMI for accessing your health risks to certain diseases and mortality.

What does this mean?

According to the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology Metabolism, the waist-to-height was the far better measure of risk – discouraging the use of weight-to-height calculation.

So what is the problem with BMI – for instance there have been many people who are thin and have low or normal BMI’s but still have heart attacks or die from strokes, do get diabetes. Then there are people who have high BMI’s and seem to be in excellent cardiovascular shape.

The Body Mass Index takes into consideration weight and as we all know two people can weigh the same and be the same height – one could be very muscular while the other carries more fat especially around their middle. Then there are the pear shaped, apple shaped, or even an upside down pear shaped people.

The fat around your waist is deemed the most dangerous place to have weight.

Fat around the abdomen – is metabolically active and produces various hormones that can be detrimental to your health – diabetes, elevated blood pressure, and altered lipid (blood fat) levels.

So the waist-to-height

How does it work? It is simply calculated by dividing your waist measurement with your height, and takes gender into account which is important.

Male – Waist 32 inches – height 5’ 10” = 70 inches

Divide 32 by 70 = point 45.7

Woman – waist 29 inches – height 5’ 7” = 67 inches

Divide 29 by 67 = point 43.2

Your waist                           Your height

Your calculation

Date

WOMEN
less than point 35 = Too thin
point 35 to 42 = Underweight
point 42 to 49 = Normal
point 49 to 54 = Overweight
point 54 to 58 = Seriously Overweight
over point 58 = Obese

MEN
less than point 35: Too thin
point 35 to 43 = Underweight
point 43 to 53 = Normal
point 53 to 58 = Overweight
point58 to 63 = Seriously Overweight
over point 63 = Obese

Lose your waist – gain your health