How to measure your waist

Find out if you’re a healthy shape by following these three simple steps.

Nurse measuring a patient's waist

Step 1

Place the tape measure around your waist, at the halfway point between the bottom of your lowest rib and the top of your hip bone.

If you have trouble finding this point, then lean to one side and see where the skin folds. This is the point where you can measure your waist.

Step 2

Make sure it’s level and a snug fit, but not digging into your skin.

Step 3

Breathe normally, and measure after you have breathed out.


What is a healthy measurement?

As a guide, a healthy waist measurement is*:

❯ less than 80cm (31.5 inches) if you’re a woman
❯ less than 94cm (37 inches) if you’re a man

*This may be different for Asian populations.