Using a tape measure may save your life! How big is your waist? The Heart & Stroke Foundation wants you to know that if you have a big waist due to excess fat that you are at risk for high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and stroke.

Take out your tape measure and use the following guidelines:

• Men with a waist measurement of more than 40 inches or 102 centimetres are at high risk for heart health problems
• Women with a waist measurement of more than 35 inches or 88 centimetres are at high risk for heart health problems
• Men of Chinese or South Asian descent with a waist measurement of more than 35.4 inches or 90 centimetres are at high risk for heart health problems
• Women of Chinese or South Asian descent with a waist measurement of more than 31.5 inches or 80 centimetres are at high risk for heart health problems

Waist circumference DOES NOT diagnosis an illness. It serves as a warning to go and see your family physician and get yourself checked out. Medical intervention may be required. It’s easy to do, requires no special equipment or skill, and is extremely accurate. Everyone should be aware of 3 factors – weight, cholesterol level, and waist circumference. Just because you have a small waist doesn’t mean that you are not at risk. Other risk factors are smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, a sedentary lifestyle, poor nutrition, diabetes, and family history.
For more information on healthy waists and how to measure yourself properly, here are two useful resources:

How to take your waist measurement
Waist to hip ratio calculator