Omkredsmålinger

Omkredsmålinger are measurements of the circumference of various body parts. They are used in fields such as health, ergonomics, clothing design and sports to quantify body size and shape, track changes over time, and inform sizing or risk assessments.

A standard procedure involves using a flexible, non-stretchable measuring tape. The person should stand upright with minimal but comfortable clothing. The tape should lie horizontally around the body, close to the skin but not compressing it. For accuracy, measurements are usually taken at specific landmarks, with two or more attempts and the average recorded. Common guidelines specify measuring at the waist, hips, chest (or bust), neck, and sometimes limbs, depending on the purpose. Measurements are typically given in centimeters or inches, often to the nearest millimeter or tenth of a centimeter.

Common measurement sites include waist circumference (around the narrowest point of the torso or at the level defined by local guidelines), hip circumference (around the widest part of the buttocks), chest or bust circumference (at the fullest part of the chest), and neck circumference (just below the larynx). Additional sites may be used in clinical or athletic settings, such as thigh or arm circumferences, to monitor muscle mass or fat distribution.

Applications of omkredsmålinger include health risk assessment (for example waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio as indicators of metabolic risk), anthropometric profiling for garment sizing and ergonomics, and monitoring changes in body composition. Proper technique and standardized protocols are important to reduce measurement error and improve comparability across assessments.