Midjemåttet

Midjemåttet, literally the waist measurement, refers to the circumference around the abdomen and is used in Swedish and Nordic contexts for both clothing sizing and health-related assessments. It is commonly understood as the measurement of the waist area, typically around the natural waist where the torso is at its narrowest.

For clothing, midjemåttet is measured with a flexible tape placed horizontally around the waist at the natural waistline, the smallest part of the torso above the hips. The person stands upright with feet together and the tape snug but not compressing the skin. The measurement is usually taken at the end of a normal exhalation. Repeating the measurement helps ensure accuracy for selecting garments or tailoring.

In health contexts, waist circumference is also referred to as midjemåttet, but the measurement point can differ. Many guidelines specify measuring at the level of the iliac crest (the top edge of the hip bones) after normal respiration. This can yield slightly different numbers from the natural waist measurement used in fashion.

Interpretation of midjemåttet varies by purpose. In clothing, it helps determine size and fit. In health assessments, waist circumference is used as an indicator of central adiposity and related metabolic risk, with threshold values differing by sex, ethnic background, and measurement method; examples in European populations often cite elevated risk when the waist is about 94 cm or more for men and 80 cm or more for women, while other guidelines use population-specific cutoffs.