A woman's wide waist size can actually be detected as a disease risk. Although the body mass index is not classified as obesity, the condition of a wide waist is a sign of central obesity, where fat is concentrated in the abdominal area.
According to the Indonesian Ministry of Health, the ideal waist size is in the range of 80 centimeters and below. Most women want a bigger waist size to attract men. There are even rumors that the bigger a woman's waist, the easier in getting pregnant.
Some Facts About Women With Big Waists
Research published in the journal of Archives of Sexual Behavior shows that most men claim, that they’re more attracted to a woman who has a small waist and large hips. In addition, large waist size does not determine the level of fertility or a woman's pregnancy speed.
In fact, your waist size can help you figure out your health risks, such as heart disease and diabetes. Some of the risk factors that make the waist bigger include age, low level of daily exercise, smoking habits, and consuming alcoholic beverages.
Some of the serious health risks associated with a bigger female waist size include:
- Type 2 diabetes
- Cardiovascular disease
- High blood pressure
- Dementia
- Metabolic syndrome
As additional information, metabolic syndrome is a group of medical conditions that occur together at the same time, and cause a person to be at high risk of developing diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension
How To Measure Your Waist Size
After knowing the relationship between waist circumference and health risks, you may be wondering "Is my waist size normal?". Do not worry, the following steps will be discussed for you who want to measure your waist circumference independently.
- Pull up the shirt below the chest for an accurate count.
- Stand up straight and relax, take a breath normally.
- Place the measuring tape around the waist. If you're confused, look for a spot midway between the protruding hipbone and the bottom rib. In most people, this spot should be just below the belly button, but it can vary.
- Make sure the measuring tape is flat against the body and parallel to the floor.
- Do not position the tape too tight or too loose.
- Take the number that intersects the 0 cm on the measuring tape.
After seeing the size of your waist circumference, compare it with the normal size reference. According to the standards of the Indonesian Ministry of Health, the normal waist circumference is as follows:
Men: 90 cm and below
Women: 80cm and below
How To Reduce My Waist Size?
Some effective ways to reduce waist circumference include changing your lifestyle to a healthier lifestyle, eating a balanced nutritious diet, quitting smoking, getting enough rest at least 8 hours a day, and if you have a history of type 2 diabetes, drug therapy such as metformin and thiazolidinediones can help.
These efforts need to be done consistently to get maximum results. Lifestyle change is a long-term process that needs to be implemented throughout life.
However, a person's health risk cannot be determined by only one factor. Waist circumference can be a factor, but it's not the end of everything. Waist size recommendations are there to help you achieve your healthy living goals. But it should be underlined that many people with large waist circumferences are still healthy.
If you are worried that your waist is too big, consult your doctor immediately to get a guide to a healthy lifestyle that is effective in reducing waist circumference. Look forward to the Fitie application that you can download on your gadget to connect with experienced doctors.