How to measure your waist | NHS

This video explains how to measure your waist so you can calculate your waist to height ratio.

Calculating your waist to height ratio is a way to measure your health alongside your body mass index (BMI). It helps you find out if you're carrying too much weight around your tummy.

00:00 - 00:12 Waist to height ratio
00:13 - 00:45 How to measure your waist
00:46 - 01:31 How to work out your waist to height ratio
01:32 - 02:01 What your result means
02:02 - 02:25 When to contact your GP surgery

[carolinewilton]

No measuring tape? Do this. I took some (clean!) toilet roll. Wrapped it around my waist as demonstrated in the video but it off so it was the same length as the way around my tummy. Held it so one end was touching the ground. Then measured how far it came up my body. The took the piece again and started it from where it came up to on my body. Now the piece went quite far above my head, which I guess means my waist is more than half my height, and I need to shift some weight from my middle!

[jacobrachiele]

This was helpful. I was always concerned I was doing something wrong because I perceive my waist as being well above my belly button (3 cm). Well, based on this method, it is. I guess I just have a low belly button.