To think my waist measurement is ok? That tall= proportionately bigger mb

[RainingMeatballs]

My mum went to the doctors yesterday and has come back to berate me about my waist size, she has been told apparently a women’s waist size should be no bigger than 32/33 inches.

Mine is 34.5 having checked. BUT I’m 6 inches taller than her, the height of many men. I’m fit, in a powerful muscle way (I cycle about 30 miles a week with a double trailer, can do a 5 k run and use free weights for example. I have biceps and can do push ups and planks etc.). My bmi is just within the healthy range. I’m not slim as such, but my waist goes in and I don’t have a protruding belly.

Surely my waist can be bigger than average by a few inches?

She’s adamant it’s just the prescribed healthy size. But it’d be very different if I was 4’10 wouldn’t it?

She’s arguing her case to the point it’s no longer straight in my head...

Your waist should be half your height or less, so if you're 5 9 or taller, it's fine, especially as it sounds like you're fit and active too.

Challenge her to a run and some planks and see who does best.

Yep. I'm 6ft every bit of me is proportionally bigger. My BMI is bang normal but my waist is obviously bigger than someone who has the same BMI as me but is 5ft. My hips are wider, my feet are fricking massive. Averages sizes are just that, average. Doesnt mean being above average is wrong.

What is your actual height OP?

I'm tempted to say that eg if you're 6 foot then YANBU, but if you're 5'7" then YABU because that's still close the average woman's height.

She’s arguing her case to the point it’s no longer straight in my head

A very useful thing to remember when evidence suggests that you're right and someone is telling you that you're wrong is that there is a very good chance that they're the one that is wrong .

Boom someone on another thread said that a lot of people don't understand the meaning of average. My mind was blown by this as it is a fairly straightforward concept. But then I remembered that Michael Gove once said, while he was Education Secretary, that all schools should aim to be above average.

I’m 5’10, not a giant- but 6’ taller than her with a waist 1.5’ bigger.
I’m am far fitter and eat a healthier diet (though more, not processed or much sugar in comparison).

I’ve just googled and it states the average UK woman is 5’3

YANBU as there will always be outliers. You are very tall for a woman (apart from maybe on Mumsnet where everyone is 5’9 AND a size 6) and are clearly healthy and active. Waist size less than half your height is probably a more helpful guide.

I'm not sure the average is still 5 3. Women have become noticeably taller in the last 20-30 years. I'm 5 7 and know as many women that are taller than me as are shorter.

When I was a teenager, I almost never saw a woman taller than me, and now many are and I feel far more average in height, I'd say the average was now at least 5 4 to 5 5.

The ‘overweight’ waist measurements of 35 or less are based on someone who is 4 ft 10. The ranges do differ according to height. Also ethnicity - Asian people, for example, carry more visceral fat and so should probably aim for below 34 regardless of height.

From NHS website
Why waist size also matters

Measuring your waist is a good way to check you're not carrying too much fat around your stomach, which can raise your risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and stroke.

You can have a healthy BMI and still have excess tummy fat, meaning you're still at risk of developing these conditions.

To measure your waist:

Find the bottom of your ribs and the top of your hips.Wrap a tape measure around your waist midway between these points.Breathe out naturally before taking the measurement.

Regardless of your height or BMI, you should try to lose weight if your waist is:

94cm (37ins) or more for men
80cm (31.5ins) or more for women

You're at very high risk and should contact a GP if your waist is:

102cm (40ins) or more for men
88cm (34ins) or more for women

If you're 5'10" I'd probably use the half your height thing as a guide, in which case you're OK at the moment because your waist is just under 35".

The healthy boundary is 0.48 for women, not 0.5. But it can still make a difference to health being at the top of that range rather than lower down. E.g. 0.45 is generally better than 0.48.

I’m 6ft and my waist was 31inches when I was super fit and did fitness modelling. 34inches looks a bit podgy on me IMO. It’s probably easy to see if your waist looks a bit overfat or you’re just build a bit bigger.

Lie & tell her it's some number she likes?

Lol, I’m not working with ‘fitness model’ standards here! Normal mum of 5 standards

That’s a brill waist for a tall mum of 5!

So long as your waist is less than half your height you are OK

You’re right, less than half your height should be more or less fine given that you’re so tall. I’d be heading for diabetes at that waist measurement but that’s because I’m a shortarse.

YABU. Not sure why you think the NHS advice doesn't apply to you? Even if you go by the "half your height" rule, you're barely within that limit.

Your mum can wind her neck in though, it's none of her business.

Oh god my I worked out my waist should be 23” and nearly cried. Then I realised it’s not just my waist that is thick, half my height is 32”. It’s still not that small though but I admit I’m an apple .
Working on it though, running and strength training has knocked 1” off so far.
I think waist size is partly due to height and build and OP’s mum shouldn’t moan at her.

@caramac04 I’d also say I’m a natural apple. My bum/ thighs are slim and weight hits me on the torso. I also have a large chest. Many jeans though with a short fly fit me at size 12, or even 10 in M&S because I have slim hips etc. If I don’t make an effort I don’t even have a waist, I’m a straight line from chest to thigh.

Also, I’m going to measure in a few days when my period is over and re-check I think. My waist can bloat and shrink a lot.

I’ve also found past 40 its harder. I work far more on health, to appear far less healthy. I am though fitter than in my 30s