To think a 84cm / 34 inch waist is not "slim"

[apenny4]

Here's a link to the article

I'm very open to being told IABU, in fact I'd be quite relieved to be told I have a warped view. Right now though I don't think a 34 inch waist is slim. To me slim is no larger than a size 10 so around a 27 inch waist max.

Unless you are a much taller than the average woman (average being 5' 4"?) I think a healthy (in the general sense of the word) waist is less than 30 inches.

However I have a small frame and have felt overweight whenever I've needed to wear size 12 bottoms (and that's still not over a 30 inch waist).

The irony is that I still think I'm at high risk of developing diabetes because my father has it and whilst not overweight I have a diet quite high in sugar.

Genuinely interested in people's views on this and whether my own view is out of kilter with the norm.

[Moln]

Healthy = lower risk of diabetes and the such like. In my opinion though certain body shapes can be slim with a 31 inch waist.

[GraceKellysLeftArm]

Another dinosaur here who remembers a 34" waist being a size 20.

[TheoriginalLEM]

so we all need to be a size 10 then???

[LaContessaDiPlump]

Actually I tell a lie - my BMI was still in the overweight section at 70kg. I was a size 12 and looked great, but I was still overweight. Apparently I'd need to be 63kg to be healthy (and at the top end of healthy at that)

I might need to ask Joff if I can borrow Winnie.

[maybebabybee]

Also slimness is no indication of healthiness is it? My best friend is very slim, gorgeous figure...probably a 26 inch waist. But her diet consists of KFC and chocolate bars. I've never seen her eat a vegetable in my life.

[lastqueenofscotland]

But weight is an indicator , yes there are thin people who never move and eat shit and fat people who eat well and go jogging but there are several diseases that are connected to weight that are hardly seen in slim people you can't deny that!

[Moln]

She's apple shaped - so I bet she is skinny everywhere else but her belly. I expect if she was dressed in normal flattering clothes rather than skin tight lycra, you'd describe her as slim.

This with bells on. My waist (around the belly part) is slightly less than the woman in the article. I'm described as 'slender' 'thin' and 'slim' by my friends and colleagues. I in fact have the infamous thigh gap (not a major one now!!)

I know this because I'm currently losing weight in order to reduce my belly - to under 31.5 - so when I don't eat cake etc people exclaim their 'horror'

[Moln]

I'm a size 10/12 though. Or it seems 18/20 in dinosaur sizes

[scaevola]

BMI is the best indication of healthy weight. Not perfect, because there will always be some outliers - but face it, most of us aren't the sort of highly trained athlete that does have the muscle mass to skew it.

I think Kate Middleton looks skinny because she is naturally very narrow round the hips (her mother is too), is tall and looks really tall because she's almost always in really high-heeled shoes when on public engagements.

[Moob]

It's just fact that we are all a lot bigger than we used to be. As stated. A size 20 from when my mum was my age probably wouldn't go near someone who is currently a 12 or 14.

None of the woman in my family over 50 have or have ever had (other than when pregnant) a waist over 26"

For those under 40 I would say the exact opposite.

Same applies to the men. 34"+ waists were very rare and now once the lads hit 25 they all seem to be more than that.

Look at a school photos these days and compare to one from the 70s. The two or three "big kids" from the old photo are average now.

We eat more and are getting fatter than ever. People's perception of fat is changing based on what the see around them and changing clothes sizes

[ThumbWitchesAbroad]

Waist circumference is a far better indicator of health risk for some conditions, such as diabetes, than BMI.

[maybebabybee]

there are several diseases that are connected to weight that are hardly seen in slim people you can't deny that!

I don't disagree with this, but the fact does remain that this thread is essentially saying anything under X number is healthy, and anything under is not.

[Writerwannabe83]

I'm 5ft 5", weigh about 9st and wear size 10 clothes. I don't consider myself as slim though as I have a bit of a baby paunch after a CS and my thighs are too wide for my liking

Slim to me is someone who is pretty much fat-free, nice flat stomach etc

I used to be like that

At the size I am now I was once told by a guy that I was "borderline" in terms of what size of girl he'd be happy to date, I.e I was too heavy for his liking

[TheFormidableMrsC]

My waist the bane of my life-. I come from a family of apples, it's a nightmare. I am 46, I exercise for at least an hour a day including running, power walking, body combat, pump, a bit of Davina, a bit of Insanity not all at once-- and while I have slim and toned hips and arms and a decent firm butt, my waist still remains resolutely bigger than it should be. I hate it. I am aware that too many carbs/sugar make me bloat and I have cut alcohol down to one evening a week. I am not sure I can do any more than I am doing already. It is just my shape! I have had two babies, the second only four years ago and was back in my normal clothes within two weeks. I have accepted that I will never have a tiny waist

[TheFormidableMrsC]

Oh dear, apologies for the massive strike out that wasn't supposed to happen!!!

[Birdsgottafly]

""but there are several diseases that are connected to weight that are hardly seen in slim people you can't deny that!""

Well all the research does. If you are less than a stone overweight and are active, there isn't increased risk.

The tests that this woman has done has shown her "at risk", this allows a person to make lifestyle changes, which aren't necessarily all about reducing weight.

What you eat/drink and exercise, will be the difference.

The same studies showed that those whose diets wasn't good and who didn't exercise, but was in the healthy lower BMI range, were more at risk and in the same category as those who were very overweight.

I'm 47, women of my age, when I was younger, weren't trying to get into skinny jeans, they wore dresses, fit and flare type clothing and every woman I had contact with, all wore Spandex or 'sucking in' type underwear.

[WinnieTheW0rm]

"Waist circumference is a far better indicator of health risk for some conditions, such as diabetes, than BMI."

Genuine question.

How many people who have a normal BMI have a waist greater than 31.5 (just cited above as the maximum healthy)?

Have any studies actually looked at that?

[sleepwhenidie]

MrsC stress is highly correlated with belly fat - I suspect its a scary experiment to contemplate but you may just find that cutting right back on the intense (essentially stressful) exercise and trying yoga instead has the desired effect ! I'd maybe keep the weight training in there though.

[Moln]

I do WinnieTheW0rm. So that's a count of one for you!!

[MrsFrisbyMouse]

That's the point of the article.

Her BMI is probably within the normal range - she looks 'slim' across the rest of her body but her height to waist ratio is wrong.

The point is that your height to waist ratio is a better predictor of future health issues than BMI. That fat stored around your waist area isn't good and usually indicates fat in your internal organs as well. This messes with your insulin levels and therefore puts you at risk of Diabetes.

There is a high level of diabetes 2 in rice eating countries.

[redhat]

I'm really hoping the tape measure that came out of DH's christmas cracker isn't correct. I've just measured my waist and it's 29 inches. I am most certainly an 8/10 though and have recently bought quite a few new clothes and so I know that to be correct.

[TheFormidableMrsC]

Sleepwhenidie...yes, you're right, I have just come out of the other side of two years of an utterly horrific divorce, although that caused me to lose a huge amount of weight very very quickly (when husband left), around two stone in just over two weeks. I was very ill. I think it has hugely taken its' toll on my body. I have also developed insomnia as a result of the situation and haven't had a decent night's sleep over the last two years either...I realise that impacts on your body too.

I will take on board what you say, I do love the exercise I do otherwise I simply wouldn't be able to keep it up (running club tonight for example!). I will look into the yoga side, you're not the first to mention that (and pilates actually). I will definitely keep up the weights because they are vital I think. Thank you, that's very helpful .

[SurferJet]

I'm a 34' waist & defo not slim. But I am a size 12 so not fat either.

[BernardsarenotalwaysSaints]

No I don't think a 34" waist is slim. It's not huge either.

I'm in between sizes atm (10 & 12) the only thing stopping me comfortably fitting a 10 is my bloody hips. I never had hips before children. They're going again now though thankfully well at least thats what I'm telling myself the excruciating spd type pain is. I'm almost 7 months pp & it's around now it's happened after the previous 3 dc. If I could find a tape measure that didn't come out an Christmas cracker I'd measure myself. I'm 5ft 6" & weigh just over 9 & a half stone. So I could do with loosing a little I supposebit I'm fit, active & have a fairly good diet so it's happening, albeit slowly.