The waist circumference is used by clinicians and health professionals to help determine a person’s risk for developing serious diseases such as stroke, heart disease and diabetes.
Individuals who carry fat mainly around their waist (“apple” shape) are more likely to develop serious health problems than those who carry fat mainly around the hips and thighs (“pear” shape).
Women with a waist measurement greater than 35 inches, and men with a waist measurement greater than 40 inches, are at higher risk for developing serious health conditions than individuals with a smaller waist measurement