Waist Circumference

Waist circumference is the simplest and most common way to measure “abdominal obesity”—the extra fat found around the middle that is an important factor in health, even independent of BMI. It’s the circumference of the abdomen, measured at the natural waist (in between the lowest rib and the top of the hip bone), the umbilicus (belly button), or at the narrowest point of the midsection.

Strengths

Easy to measure.

Inexpensive.

Strongly correlated with body fat in adults as measured by the most accurate methods.

Studies show waist circumference predicts development of disease and death.

Limitations:

 Measurement procedure has not been standardized.

Lack of good comparison standards (reference data) for waist circumference in children.

May be difficult to measure and less accurate in individuals with a BMI of 35 or higher.

http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/obesity-prevention-source/obesity-definition/how-to-measure-body-fatness/

Dear Ali, There is a positive correlation observed between WC and BMI and the correlation is significant, means WC and BMI are not statistically independent. Can we use WC as an indicator of thinness in adults.

Thanks 

Dear Naveen,

The answer is yes. The waist circumference is one of the measures to assess obesity. Other than waist circumference, body fat%, waist:hip ratio, body weight, BMI etc. are also used to measure the obesity. Indian Council of Medical Research has given a guidelines for body weight of an individual with a particular body height. You may please refer the guidelines either in net or books published by them. 

Dr Biswajit Sinha

Actually, I do not think it is a good method.

Imagine, you have lady with gynoid type of obesity; such ladies sometimes may have low value of waist circumference and high body fat content.

With regards, LMB

Not everz abdominal obesity is the same.In my experience best corelation with HOMA beta is achieved with relation of waist and subcutaneous adipose tissue thicknes meassured on waist line. That reviels amount of viseral obesity in easy and inexpensive way. People with higher WC to SAT division have worse glucose regulation.

Following articles address this issues (pros and cons of BMI vs WC,, etc:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/236900443_Visceral_adiposity_and_cardiometabolic_risks_epidemic_of_abdominal_obesity_in_North_America

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/236900357_Thermogenesis-based_interventions_for_obesity_and_Type_2_diabetes_mellitus

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259292599_Pathophysiology_of_obesity_Focused_cause-driven_approach_to_control_the_epidemic

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/257493841_Correlations_of_Cross-Sectional_BDM_with_BMI_Menopausal_Status_Serum_Estradiol_Smoking_and_Exercise

Best wishes

Prof. Sunil Wimalawansa

Article Visceral adiposity and cardiometabolic risks: Epidemic of ab...

Article Thermogenesis-based interventions for obesity and Type 2 dia...

Article Pathophysiology of obesity: Focused, cause-driven approach t...

Article Correlations of Cross-Sectional BDM with BMI, Menopausal Sta...