Waist-to-Height Ratio: How Do You Measure Up?

I'm 52½ years old; 5 feet 9½ inches tall; weigh 162 pounds; and, my waist is 32 inches. I just shared with you some statistics about myself that many people are afraid to share. Think about it. Are you hesitant to share any of this information with anyone? If you are, don't worry. Many people are hesitant about sharing things like their age, weight, and so on. In fact, many lie about it -- to others and to themselves. The fact is that all of us have measurements that define our body, but those measurements don't define WHO we are. Who we are is defined by so many other elements of our lives, such as our interests, jobs, convictions, goals, and more. The statistics of our physical being do not define who we are as a person, but can tell us if we need to make changes as to how we take care of our body.

Have you ever used a waist-to-height ratio calculator? It is a simple way to see if you have a healthy waist-to-height ratio. Since I have a 32-inch waist and am 5 feet 9½ inches tall, my waist-to-height ratio is 46.04, which equates to a healthy, normal weight. However, keep in mind that the calculator provides a general guideline and should not be taken as a definite indicator of your overall health or physique. It’s always best to get a detailed body fat analysis using such techniques as hydrostatic weighing, DEXA scan, or BodPod to accurately determine your lean muscle mass to body fat ratio.

So, what's your waist size? According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), your waist size is "normal" if it’s 35 inches or less for women or 40 inches or less for men. If your waist size is bigger than this, the NIH states that you’re at risk for health problems like diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure. A bigger belly means you’re storing fat, a risk factor for chronic disease. How to measure your waist size:

• Wrap a tape measure around your waist. (The tape measure should be around your bare stomach just above the upper hip bone near your belly button)
• Breathe in, then out, normally.
• Pull the tape measure snug.
• Record your waist size.

If your waist size is larger than normal, set a goal to improve it. Be active 30 to 60 minutes a day. Eat more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds, and less junk food. Set a small goal, like losing one pound a week, until your waist size is in the normal range. Then, keep up those healthy habits for life.

From Him, Through Him, For Him (Romans 11:36),

Paul J. Staso

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Visit my YouTube channel -- https://www.youtube.com/user/pacetrek

Click on any of the links below to see some of my adventure photos:

• United States in 2006 (3,260 miles solo in 108 days at age 41)
• Montana in 2008 (620 miles solo in 20 days at age 43)
• Alaska in 2009 (500 miles solo in 18 days at age 44)
• Germany in 2010 (500 miles solo in 21 days at age 45)
• The Mojave Desert in 2011 (506 miles solo in 17 days at age 46)
• Various Photos From Mileposts Gone By
• Students Worldwide Who Ran With Me Virtually
• Roadside Sights From My Running Adventures
• Some Cycling Moments From The Past