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.

[suzannecaravaggio]

A Large waist measurement usually indicates visceral adipose tissue
This is widely considered to be unhealthy, fat strored around the viscera behaves pathologically compared to fat stored subcutaneously in the hip and thigh area

[suzannecaravaggio]

That's my understanding anyway

[LimitedSedition]

My true waist is 32 inches, I am not slim in the slightest! I am a good stone overweight as well. I am, however, only 5'2" so that doesn't help.

[GraysAnalogy]

Is some sort of cultural adjustment required of people have to question if a 34" waist on a woman is slim? - damn right. People are getting fatter and we are all just getting used to it and accepting it, to the point that people whole were previously normal are viewed as skinny.
This.

I don't know how healthcare assistants and nurses are going to cope in a few years time with our every expanding waist lines. They struggle enough as it is now. One morbidly obese patient can take 4 members of staff and a long time to toilet and clean, all that time putting considerable strain on the HCP's bodies, creating pain and injury.

But people, like a couple on this thread, will willingly shove the issue of societies increasing obesity under the carpet. If it was just the obese person suffering due to this I wouldn't be bothered because it's completely up to them what they do with their bodies, I'll support them later on if they chose to change, but it's hurting members of staff and society as a whole.

[Moln]

Try this. Combines both bmi and waist measurement (remember to measure around you belly button NOT the slimmest part of your waist

weigh2live.safefood.eu/planandtrack/tools/bmi.asp

There's no real one (bmi v waist size) being better than the other in my opinion.

[suzannecaravaggio]

www.nhs.uk/news/2015/12December/Pages/The-idea-you-can-be-fat-but-fit-is-a-myth-study-argues.aspx

'A major study involving more than a million men seems to contradict the idea that "obese individuals can fully compensate mortality risk by being physically fit".
The idea that you can be "fat but fit" is based on the idea that a high degree of aerobic fitness – how efficiently your heart and lungs can make use of oxygen – can compensate for the complications of obesity.
The study involved over one million Swedish men, with an average age of 18 on recruitment to the armed forces, who were followed for around 29 years.
Data was collected on their level of physical fitness, health conditions, socioeconomic status and causes of death. The study found that lower levels of aerobic fitness were associated with risk of early death, but that this risk was greater for those with a high body mass index (BMI), even if they had a high level of aerobic fitness'

[LagoonaBlu]

I think this thread shows that we might be getting overly excited about how many inches there are around our waists. So much conflicting evidence about whether it is BMI or waist size etc that puts us at higher risk. And so many non weight related ways to die, too!

[TheCatsMeow]

So my true waist is 25" but around my belly button is 30". Still confused why some people would measure around the belly button...

[M48294Y]

Yes, Mrsfrisbymouse. I read the article too and it puts the "I am slim (but have a waist measurmenet of 34")" comment in perfect context. She is talking specifically about the risks to south asian people, who are widely known to be genetically predisposed to gathering fat around the middle.

Unfortunately people can't be arsed to read the link and are just posting waffle, mainly.

[angelos02]

I don't think it as simple as a stating dress sizes/weight as height is an important factor too. I am tall so even at 12 stone, I didn't look really overweight even though I was.

[Moln]

Just got out the measuring tape (was going on old - well last months -measurements)

I'm actually now below the upper limit for waist size. Woo hoo me!!!

Also I measured my waist waist it's quite a few inches less than my belly 'waist' so yes is a person was 34inches around the 'waist waist' then they would appear slim. However around thief belly button then yes I think you'll find they can look thin

[LimitedSedition]

I am quite an unhealthy person, Lagoona, if anything's going to finish me off, it'll be the diet coke addiction.

I was doing really well at the gym, but had to pack it in because of work. I've got a contract finishing next week though, so I'm going back!

[Throwingshade]

YANBU

I'm a not-very-slim-but-short size 10 and my waist is 28.

You would definitely not say 'she's got a small waist' if you saw me.

We have indeed lost sight of what a healthy size looks like.

[LagoonaBlu]

unfortunately people can't be arsed to read the link and are just posting waffle, mainly

m4

[Moln]

So my true waist is 25" but around my belly button is 30". Still confused why some people would measure around the belly button...

Because that's the area that matters for medical/health reasons. Weight (in other words fat) around the middle increases health risks dramatically. So a person with a bmi of, say, 26 but hold most of that extra weight around their thighs has a lower health risk than someone (like me) who carries the weight on their belly.

[LagoonaBlu]

limited

[Moln]

I think the biggest mistake the waist measurement promotion made was calling it a waist measurement. It's your belly you need to measure.

[BlueSmarties76]

Well, it depends doesn't it. If you're 4ft 10 and 34 inch waist that's very different from being 6ft 3 with a 34 inch waist.

I agree people have got bigger in general. I believe the average size in the UK is now 16, which I think is a 34" waist??

Yes, Apple shapes with waists over 32" present a health risk, but realistically, most of us are unhealthy.

It's very hard to eat a perfect diet and not drink in today's society!

[TheCatsMeow]

Moln but that area is the top of the hips so I don't understand what that's got to do with belly fat? Unless I have a weirdly shaped body

[ChazsBrilliantAttitude]

M4


The whole point of the article is that a 34" waist is not slim if you are South Asian. The propensity to lay down belly fat puts them at greater risk of developing diabetes so their waist should be slimmer.

[iloveeverykindofcat]

People have totally lost sight of normal. I'm 5"4 and 26 at the medical waist (just above bellybutton) and believe me I am not too thin. There's jiggle there if I'm being brutally honest with myself. Ten years ago I was considered normal. Now I'm skinny and have lost a dress size, which is interesting considering I've actually gained a few pounds since then.

[Moln]

m.youtube.com/watch?ebc=ANyPxKqUkXKZQP0DzYP-jdyVHK-1jJMb6w7ZdP-IxxpfbyHQHXvwq2aIquD3mTHtyC-3F92ierzFDlVDFwOan0rh1o1QRThKpA&time_continue=4&v=tqAsD7SqmbQ

[TheCatsMeow]

Thanks Moln. I think I have the weirdest body ever because my belly button is much lower than half way between my ribs and hips. I only have 2" of gap from end of ribs to start of hips though

[suzannecaravaggio]

Fat is the new normal
normal in the sense of being commonplace that is

[suzannecaravaggio]

What we need is a body scan showing how much muscle tissue, how much adipose and the distribution of the latter