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Normal Waist Size--What Is the Ideal
Waist Size for a Woman or Man
Last Updated November 12, 2008, updated January 11, 2009
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By Susan Callahan,
Health Editor and Featured Columnist
What is the ideal waist size? As you might expect, recommendations vary.
Under the guidelines of the International Diabetes Federation, a normal
waist line for a woman is 32 inches or less, and for a man is 38 inches or
less.
Many doctors are even more stringent, recommending a target of 30 inches
or less for a woman and 35 for a man.
Normal Waist Size for a Woman
To measure your waist, stand in front of a mirror with your feet apart.
Wrap the tape around your waist just about an inch above your belly button.
Here is a chart of the range of waist sizes that are considered healthy for a
woman of different heights. The column titled Waist-to-Height Ratio is a
way to tell if you are considered overweight or at an unhealthy waist line.
Ideal Waist Size for Women of Different Heights (Chart for
Men Below)
How does your Waist-to-Height Ratio Compare with Others? Here are
some ratios for you to use as a comparison: (Article Continues Below)
Subjects Waist-to-Height Ratio
Barbie Doll 25.0%
Ken Doll 36.0%
Female College Swimmers 42.4%
Male College Swimmers 42.8%
World Health Organization
Cut-off for Increased Risk Females 49.2%
General Healthy Cutoff 50.0%
WHO Increased Risk Males 53.6%
WHO Substantially Increased
Risk Females 54.1%
WHO Substantially Increased
Risk Males 58.2%
Here are the Cut-Offs for Waist-to-Height Rations to Watch, according to
the World Health Organization:
Increased Risk Substantially
Increased Risk
Waist (WHtR) Waist (WHtR)
Men 37.0" (53.6%) 40.2" (58.3%)
Women 31.5" (49.2%) 34.6" (54.1%)
Normal Waist Size for a Man
Ideal Waist Size for Men of Different Heights (Women
Should Use the Chart Above. Men May Want to Bookmark
this Chart)
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