A Simple Measurement to Measure Your Health

Measuring your waistline can give you valuable insight into your health.  

Women should have a waistline of 35 inches or less and men should have a waistline of 40 inches or less.  

If your waistline measurement is higher than that, it means that excessive fat is being store both under the skin (subcutaneous fat) and also around the abdominal organs (visceral fat).  This increased amount of visceral fat has been linked to cardiovascular disease, diabetes and colorectal cancer. The abdominal subcutaneous fat is unsightly but it does not have as much negative impact on your health as does the visceral fat.

To measure your waistline, place a flexible tape measure on your bare skin, at the top of your hips (typically right under your belly button).  Inhale and exhale BUT do NOT draw your abdomen in.  Pull the tape measure snug around your midsection and that is your waistline measurement.

Action plan if your waistline number is too high - start exercising on a regular basis and watch your diet and your portion size.  Simple changes can make all the difference.  When you go out to eat, share your meal or make a point to only eat half of it.  Join a gym or if you do not like to exercise learn how to dance.  We all have seen how celebrities on Dancing with the Stars lose weight.

To your health in 2014!