Waist Circumference

Your waist circumference measurement is a measure of body composition and can be used to help you identify whether you may be at increased risk for a variety of health issues.

A large waist circumference measurement is usually associated with increased fat stores around the mid section of your torso.

While some of these fat stores are subcutaneous fat (fat that is stored just under your skin) most of the fat is visceral fat. 

Visceral or abdominal fat is stored in your abdominal cavity packed around your organs: stomach, liver, kidneys, pancreas and intestine.

Belly-fat or a "beer belly", as visceral fat is commonly called, is associated with increased risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, inflammatory diseases, and is one of the four conditions assoicated with metabolic syndrome.

Insulin resistance, hyprtension and abnormal blood lipid levels are the other three conditions.

To measure your waist circumference, remove your clothing from around your waist/hip area. Find the top of your hips and place your tape measure around your waist just...link to the full article to learn more.