Waist size, bmi and diabetes risk

[Jo123]

Just interested in other people's views and experiences on this subject.
My waist size measured around my belly button is 32" which is over the maximum 31.5" as on the NHS website.
However my BMI is 19 I am 5'8" and weigh 56.5 kgs.

Interesting as I could only go down to 55.2 kgs to be in a healthy bmi, and I honestly don't think my waist measurement would be below 31.5, so two contradictory health messages. I think for my waist to go below 31.5" I would have to lose quite a lot of weight and I do exercise.

What are other people's experiences of waist size versus bmi.

 

[zand]

Well I'm pretty sure my waist grew when I started to become insulin resistant. Before then any extra weight was always on my hips/thighs. So to me it's the diabetes that causes the larger waist, not the larger waist measurement causing the diabetes. So yes you could be within a normal BMI range and have a bigger than expected waist measurement because that's the nature of diabetes.

My own experience is that both my waist measurement and BMI are far too high.

 

[Jo123]

What a good point zand that the diabetes causes the larger waist, never thought of that.

 

[hankjam]

@Jo123 with you on this.
Male, 5'10", 72 kg and waist 32", My BMI is slightly higher but can't remember it off hand.... been wondering where to go next..

I could lose a couple more kg but it would take a lot of effort, down from 95 kg and the skin is beginning to be a bit loose round arms and stomach.... not a nice look...

be interested to see responses to your posting.

 

[phil1966]

@hankjam - 32" for a male is well within the NHS guidelines of under 37"

I'm 5'11" with a 32" waist and weigh 79kg which gives me a BMI at the top end of the normal range (24 ish) and I definitely don't want to lose any More weight
The best advice I read was to keep your waist to less than half your height

 

[andcol]

For Men

 

[Jo123]

Thanks andrew that seems more sensible, have you a link to a women's chart, I can't seem to find one online.

 

[Jo123]

OTE="phil1966, post: 913528, member: 144138"]@hankjam - 32" for a male is well within the NHS guidelines of under 37"

I'm 5'11" with a 32" waist and weigh 79kg which gives me a BMI at the top end of the normal range (24 ish) and I definitely don't want to lose any More weight
The best advice I read was to keep your waist to less than half your height[/QUOTE]


That makes sense phil, that means I should be under 34" which fits in with my bmi.

 

[grandad9]

Just interested in other people's views and experiences on this subject.
My waist size measured around my belly button is 32" which is over the maximum 31.5" as on the NHS website.
However my BMI is 19 I am 5'8" and weigh 56.5 kgs.

Interesting as I could only go down to 55.2 kgs to be in a healthy bmi, and I honestly don't think my waist measurement would be below 31.5, so two contradictory health messages. I think for my waist to go below 31.5" I would have to lose quite a lot of weight and I do exercise.

What are other people's experiences of waist size versus bmi.

HI, I am a nurse with a background in fashion design so have an understanding of body shapes and I can say that people vary considerably. Years ago, pre children, I weighed around 57kg and at 5'5" had a waist measurement of about 22". I now weigh around 80 kg and have a waist measurement of 32" and a BMI of 31. I don't think you need to worry too much about your waist measurment although it is a good indicator for those at risk of type II.

 

[AloeSvea]

Just interested in other people's views and experiences on this subject.
My waist size measured around my belly button is 32" which is over the maximum 31.5" as on the NHS website.
However my BMI is 19 I am 5'8" and weigh 56.5 kgs.

Interesting as I could only go down to 55.2 kgs to be in a healthy bmi, and I honestly don't think my waist measurement would be below 31.5, so two contradictory health messages. I think for my waist to go below 31.5" I would have to lose quite a lot of weight and I do exercise.

What are other people's experiences of waist size versus bmi.

The belly button per se is not a good determiner of whether it's your waist proper, but is for some folks like you? who have a low waist. As in this woman on this wiki-how demo

http://www.wikihow.com/Measure-Your-Waist

but not this one -
https://mamathatcould.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/skinny-gal-tape-measure.jpg

But I like this one for figuring out where your waist is - makes sense - (and a real retro look!)
http://www.waistshaperuk.com/pages/size-guide

But I like the fact that this one talks about different ethnic groups and height-waist ratios -
http://www.whyiexercise.com/waist-circumference.html

Who would think it would be so complex? (Bodies, huh?!)

Interesting thinking about which came first - the insulin resistance or the belly fat. Hmmm. Still thinking about it...

 

[mojo37]

I have a high waist and at its biggest it was 39"......BMI 32 I carry most of my weight round my middle ...don't know about apple shape I'm like a barrel of apples lol...oh to be a pear

 

[Gezzabelle]

My 'actual' waist is now 4 inches smaller due to diet changes and weight loss. The around the belly button is never going to be the measurement they require. I piled on a huge amount of weight and inches on my hips and tummy in the months prior to diagnosis so there must be something to the measurement they want us to aspire to but to achieve it I would have to have liposuction or something similar as it seems unrealistic to me due to where they measure...around the belly button is NOT our waist is it My BMI is in the healthy range too after being brought down by weight loss so if that isn't enough for them I am afraid I can't do much more to change my shape lol

 

[AloeSvea]

HI, I am a nurse with a background in fashion design so have an understanding of body shapes and I can say that people vary considerably. Years ago, pre children, I weighed around 57kg and at 5'5" had a waist measurement of about 22". I now weigh around 80 kg and have a waist measurement of 32" and a BMI of 31. I don't think you need to worry too much about your waist measurment although it is a good indicator for those at risk of type II.

I think T2 diabetics DO have to consider their waist measurement. Belly fat (and I say this as a woman who lived with belly fat for a long time, even when the rest of me was not fat) is an indicator of the fat on those organs - the liver, the pancreas - and then not to forget our hearts (that stroke risk thing). And that fat changes the hormone balance, and of course - the leptin, insulin and ultimately our blood glucose control. And we all know about the blood glucose level thing!

In fact, I would say forget about the scales, and if you are going to concentrate on anything - concentrate on your waist size! (ie your belly as an indicator of health.) But numbers can be a pisser. (including numbers on a tape measure.)

I had been diagnosed as diabetic for about two months before I read somewhere about the abdominal fat thing, and measured about 94cm or 37 inches (HBAIc of 93). And have kept records of my measurements since. At the lowest HBAIc (40) I have gotten to since diagnosis I was measuring at 81cm. I'm now at HBA1c of 44 and 85cm waist. It's not just about the risk in the first place - it's actually how your body deals with food and the blood glucose, and therefore your diabetes. It's that important.

 

[AloeSvea]

HI, I am a nurse with a background in fashion design so have an understanding of body shapes and I can say that people vary considerably. Years ago, pre children, I weighed around 57kg and at 5'5" had a waist measurement of about 22". I now weigh around 80 kg and have a waist measurement of 32" and a BMI of 31. I don't think you need to worry too much about your waist measurment although it is a good indicator for those at risk of type II.

ps I really like what you said about body shapes and people varying considerably! Absolutely.

 

[Gezzabelle]

I think T2 diabetics DO have to consider their waist measurement. Belly fat (and I say this as a woman who lived with belly fat for a long time, even when the rest of me was not fat) is an indicator of the fat on those organs - the liver, the pancreas - and then not to forget our hearts (that stroke risk thing). And that fat changes the hormone balance, and of course - the leptin, insulin and ultimately our blood glucose control. And we all know about the blood glucose level thing!

In fact, I would say forget about the scales, and if you are going to concentrate on anything - concentrate on your waist size! (ie your belly as an indicator of health.) But numbers can be a pisser. (including numbers on a tape measure.)

I had been diagnosed as diabetic for about two months before I read somewhere about the abdominal fat thing, and measured about 94cm or 37 inches (HBAIc of 93). And have kept records of my measurements since. At the lowest HBAIc (40) I have gotten to since diagnosis I was measuring at 81cm. I'm now at HBA1c of 44 and 85cm waist. It's not just about the risk in the first place - it's actually how your body deals with food and the blood glucose, and therefore your diabetes. It's that important.

That belly fat is a demon....I have reduced mine but the stubborn little beggar still insists on remaining in a form I wish would go away. I am fully aware a lot of my internal organs can now breathe and function much better due to fat loss around them but try as I might that belly fat or my doughnut as I affectionately call it refuses to disappear no matter how much weight I lose. It always comes off places we don't want it to

 

[AloeSvea]

That belly fat is a demon....I have reduced mine but the stubborn little beggar still insists on remaining in a form I wish would go away. I am fully aware a lot of my internal organs can now breathe and function much better due to fat loss around them but try as I might that belly fat or my doughnut as I affectionately call it refuses to disappear no matter how much weight I lose. It always comes off places we don't want it to

Ha! Yes. I hear you. I didn't mind being "pleasantly plump" back pre-diagnosis. As I say - I didn't mind the fat but my liver and pancreas obviously did - **** it all! It could be very socially awkward when at various times in my life I had folk insist I was pregnant when I really really wasn't. "Are you sure?" I had as a response more than once. "I'm just fat!" I would reply. Then they would realise how appalling they had been, and slink away never to talk to me again, lol. That is a really good aspect to losing the belly fat (not being in that embarrassing social situation again.)

As for other fat - oh yes, I know what you mean. In all the posts I made during my excursion into a deviated newcastle diet/VLCD = LCD, I never mentioned my shrinking breasts! And the hilarious time I had for a couple of months after with a big hollow at the top of some of my favourite bras. I DID mention having to take a cushion around with me so I could sit comfortably out of the house on wooden chairs - as I had next to no butt fat. I way prefer being normal weight, than being lean. Again - if only my liver and pancreas felt the same way!

 

[Gezzabelle]

Ha! Yes. I hear you. I didn't mind being "pleasantly plump" back pre-diagnosis. As I say - I didn't mind the fat but my liver and pancreas obviously did - **** it all! It could be very socially awkward when at various times in my life I had folk insist I was pregnant when I really really wasn't. "Are you sure?" I had as a response more than once. "I'm just fat!" I would reply. Then they would realise how appalling they had been, and slink away never to talk to me again, lol. That is a really good aspect to losing the belly fat (not being in that embarrassing social situation again.)

As for other fat - oh yes, I know what you mean. In all the posts I made during my excursion into a deviated newcastle diet/VLCD = LCD, I never mentioned my shrinking breasts! And the hilarious time I had for a couple of months after with a big hollow at the top of some of my favourite bras. I DID mention having to take a cushion around with me so I could sit comfortably out of the house on wooden chairs - as I had next to no butt fat. I way prefer being normal weight, than being lean. Again - if only my liver and pancreas felt the same way!

Ohhhh I lament the loss of my boobs....from a D cup to a C cup....4 inches gone around my ribs too....so no clothes/bras fit me now At this rate I will be a 32 EGG cup Waited all my life for a decent pair and now they are disappearing by the week

 

[hankjam]

I'm finding the lack of "support" on my backbone in the bath a bit of a problem.... not nearly so nice to lie back and relax...

 

[Gezzabelle]

I'm finding the lack of "support" on my backbone in the bath a bit of a problem.... not nearly so nice to lie back and relax...

Has to be said H that a little ''padding'' has its benefits. My extra firm mattress now hurts my ribs cos all the padding is gone. You can play Chopsticks on them now

 

[andcol]

oh yes the boney a**e is a pain in the butt literally - I actually sit on a cushion on my computer chair. Apart from that I do like being able to cross my legs again and hold my hands behind my back when I walk.

For me there was a direct correlation between waist and glucose response. I am down to 31" waist from greater than 46" and my BMI is still between 26 and 27.