Midjeomfang

Midjeomfang, or waist circumference, is an anthropometric measure used to estimate central adiposity and related health risk. It is commonly employed in clinical practice and research alongside body mass index (BMI) to assess cardiometabolic risk.

Measuring midjeomfang involves the person standing upright and the tape placed horizontally around the abdomen at the level of the natural waist, typically the midpoint between the lower rib margin and the top of the iliac crest. The tape should be snug but not compressing the skin and should be parallel to the floor. Measurements are taken at the end of a normal expiration. It is recommended to take two measurements and use their average; if the values differ by more than about 1 centimeter, a third measurement may be taken.

Interpretation and use: A larger waist circumference indicates greater central fat accumulation and an elevated risk of metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, independent to some extent of BMI. Thresholds for what constitutes an elevated risk are sex- and ethnicity-specific and vary by guideline. Common references in many European-population guidelines place increased risk at around 94 cm for men and 80 cm for women, with higher thresholds indicating high risk in some guidelines (for example, about 102 cm for men and 88 cm for women), though exact cut-offs differ.

Limitations: Waist circumference does not distinguish visceral from subcutaneous fat and can be influenced by measurement technique and body habitus. For risk assessment, it is often used together with other indicators such as waist-to-hip ratio, waist-to-height ratio, BMI, blood pressure, and biochemical markers to provide a more comprehensive evaluation of health risk.