The string test. Aibu to think this is a pretty clear way to show you're overweight?

[africanprincessinscotland]

I caught a bit of a BBC programme earlier where they were doing the string test. I've never heard of it before, but it makes perfect sense. If your waist measurement is more than half your height, you are overweight. And because it's around your waist, it indicates how much visceral fat you have. That's the really bad type.

So, you get a piece of string, cut it to the length of your height (heel to head), fold it in half and put it around your waist. If it doesn't meet, you're overweight. Very simple.

I know that BMI is controversial, but with this, you can't really argue against it, can you? Unless you're pregnant!

Sounds ok to me!

I am overweight and my waist is less than half my height. So it wouldn't work for me.

The only thing it won't show is people who are 'skinny fat'. Where although they look slim, they actually have a high body fat percentage. I'm pretty sure I am one of those.

Thank you so much for posting this Africanprincess! I watched this programme today but missed the first bit; so I was going to start a thread asking how to do the string test!

Dh and I are definitely going to try it out tomorrow!

This doesn't sound like a particularly scientific or accurate measure...

I did that test when I still had a stone to lose and I JUST made it into the healthy range. I wasn't though....defo a bit porky. I must have been a "skinny fat person" too.

So if you are 6 foot, your waist cannot be bigger than 30 inches?

That's very small for a man. By about 8 inches.

Also I think the message of the programme was encouraging; ie that only losing 5% of your weight makes a difference, also when losing weight, you lose the nasty inner fat (visceral fat was it?) that sits around your organs first. (Actually, that could have been in the second programme that followed but anyway ... .)

I'm overweight and my waist is less than half my height. Tried it this morning.

I did it and I am just about ok. But actually for me I'm "overweight" right now as my fighting weight is about 1 stone lighter. However I don't think a doctor would look at me and tell me I needed to lose weight.

I think 99% of overweight people already know they are overweight.

New year no someone who is 6ft could have up to a 36inch waist

A 6ft man should have a 36 inch waist

*36 inch or less obviously

Half of 6 foot is 36 inches. There are 12 inches in a foot. If you’re 5 foot tall your waist should be 30 inches or less.

Sorry cross posted!

Newyear, 36 inches is half of 6 ft.

NewYear if you are 5ft (60 inches) your waist can not be more than 30 inches according to this, for 6ft it would be 36 inches. No idea how sensible those numbers are.

So if you are 6 foot, your waist cannot be bigger than 30 inches? That's very small for a man. By about 8 inches.

Well......there are 12 inches to a foot, so half of 6 foot would be 36 inches. Which is probably average or so waist size for someone of that height.

38 inch waist for a man of any height is quite big, although not massive if you're very tall.

Myotherusername it is based on research. I didn't see the rest of the programme, but I did know there is a connection between fat around your middle, and an increased risk of heart attacks, stroke etc. That's why being a "apple" shape (which I am) is more dangerous than being a pear.

I'm actually a healthy bmi, but fail this test.
I have also just been diagnosed with fatty liver...so in my case fairly acurate descripption of my ill health.

So if you are 6 foot, your waist cannot be bigger than 30 inches?

36 inches surely.

I was obese with a 34 inch bust, 30 inch waist, 50 inch hips and massive thighs so it wouldn’t work on me or any pear shaped / big bottomed type.

I'm glad your maths is better than mine !!!!!

I pass this test but am 2 stone overweight
I just have an hour glass shape with a small waist