How to Analyze Your Weight and Waistline

Belly fat is some pretty scary stuff, so you need to identify whether you’re at risk. Then you have to determine what you can do to decrease your belly fat as much as possible. Your risk isn’t just determined by your weight, however. It’s important to keep the size of your waistline in mind, too.

Even if you’re at a healthy body weight, you may still have too much belly fat.

How to Analyze Your Weight and Waistline

A recent study by Statistics Canada found that 21 percent of women considered to be at a normal weight were at an increased risk of health complications due to their levels of abdominal fat. So even though your weight on the scale may look okay, you may still be at risk of health conditions brought on by excess belly fat.

Waist circumference is a key measurement that many individuals don’t focus on. The research on the health risks associated with abdominal fat is so compelling that it may be time to focus less on the number on the scale and more on the measurement of your waistline.

You need to know your body mass index (BMI) as well as your waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio so you can see what your belly fat risk is and how to address it. (Your waist-to-hip ratio correlates with increased risk of heart attacks, so it’s an important number to know.)

No two bellies are exactly the same. Many different causes of belly fat exist, so you need to determine the cause of your belly fat so you can work on decreasing it and preventing it from returning.