Beware of Waist and Hip Measurements

A fitness assessment is performed by a professional trainer before you start your exercise program. One of the critical measurements taken is your Waist-to-Hip Ratio (waist measurement divided by hip measurement). This measurement is important because there is a correlation between chronic diseases and abdominal fat. A ratio above .80 for females and above .95 for males could put a person at risk for a number of diseases, including cancer.

For example, if your waist is 31 inches and your hips are 41 inches, your Waist-to-Hip Ratio would be .76. Some people who consider themselves to be "skinny" could really be "skinny-fat", which is a skinny person with too much body fat. A "skinny-fat" person could have an unfavorable Waist-to-Hip Ratio. The lesson? Everyone needs to know their Waist-to-Hip Ratio.