Knowing your waist circumference helps not only monitor your health, but is also necessary when choosing clothes. This area of \u200b\u200bthe body tends to constantly change its size, depending on the person's diet, lifestyle and weight. Therefore, it is necessary to measure the waist size quite often, and you need to know the measurement method.
WHY YOU NEED TO KNOW YOUR WAIST SIZE
The waist is not only the muse of poetry and comedy, but also the part of the abdomen located between the ribcage and the pelvis. Usually a woman's waist is located just above the navel, literally two or three centimeters, and it is narrower than that of a man. A weakly pronounced waistline indicates the action of androgen hormones, which allow a woman to be more resilient in the modern world. Such women have strong character. The thin part characterizes the good condition of the female reproductive system, more rare cases of infertility, mild character.
The human body changes constantly. Waist measurements are not the same, especially for women. Indeed, the volume of the body is influenced not only by nutrition or sports, but also by the phases of the female cycle, the state of hormones. Its size can tell a lot. For example, a woman's waist over 80 centimeters signals health problems. An urgent need to take action to reduce weight. In men, this figure ranges from 94 centimeters, which indicates a health risk. The vital necessity of losing weight arises in men with a waist size of more than 104 centimeters.
Buying or sewing new clothes is also accompanied by the need to measure the waist. It is impossible to sew a dress or skirt of a suitable size without knowing this important parameter of the figure. To create a pattern, you need to correctly measure the waist circumference - the volume of the narrowest place. It should be noted that when buying a skirt in a store, you need to add 3 centimeters to the obtained measurement. Especially often it is necessary to measure the volume of the narrow part of the body between the chest and abdomen if a diet is being carried out. Sports loads also require control over the results, because it is so nice to track positive dynamics. For this, it is better to measure two parameters - the narrowest point and the volume at the navel level.
MEASUREMENT PROCESS
To take a measurement, you only need a measuring tape, which should be soft. It is better if the tailor's centimeter also has a measurement in inches. This will help you know the size when ordering a dress from abroad. There is also a centimeter with fixing loops, hooks. In the absence of a special measuring tape, you can measure with an ordinary cord or tape. After measuring your waist, you can simply find out the length of the cord using a ruler.
Measurement of the waist parameter should be carried out on a naked body, without underwear. This is especially true if you are planning to buy clothes that are very tight to the body. The presence of clothing distorts the actual size. To measure this part of the body correctly, you should take off your shoes, especially those with high heels. Heels affect posture and distort body parameters. The accuracy of the measurement result depends on the position of the body. You need to stand up straight, relax your body, exhale slightly. If the abdomen is pulled in strongly, the measurement will be incorrect.
When measured correctly, the skin at the waist should not be squeezed, but a loosely dangling measuring tape will also not give the correct result. A good method of identification is to slip a couple of fingers between the waist and the tape. If they do not pass, then the tape should be slightly loosened, no matter how much you would like to see a smaller number of centimeters. The correct value will be where the mark coincides with zero. To correctly measure the girth of the narrowest part of the body, the tape must lie strictly horizontally.
There is an opinion, gleaned from fashion designers, that the waist should be measured along the navel line. But this rule is only suitable for the wasp waist and the location of the navel exactly between the edge of the lower ribs and the pelvic bones. But every woman is different, and the location of the navel may be slightly different. Therefore, the surest way is to measure at the narrowest point of the waist. The waist in women may not be pronounced or, conversely, very noticeable:
- the waist of women with an hourglass or pear figure stands out well;
- if the type of figure is "rectangle", "triangle", "apple", then the waist is practically invisible, which causes some difficulties with the correct finding of the narrowest point.
Many men often have no waist and have a belly. In this case, the tape is located three centimeters above the thigh bone. In the front, the tape should run at an extreme point. This measurement is necessary when choosing a jacket. To buy trousers, you need to measure along the belt line.
OTHER METHODS OF MEASUREMENT
There is one method for determining the exact location of the narrowest part of the body. You need to tie a tourniquet or thin elastic around the waist. Now you can move in any way. You can dance, squat, just walk for a few minutes. The elastic will take the correct position by itself, in the narrowest place. Now you can measure.
You can use trousers or a skirt that fits very well. It is enough to fasten the item and lay it out on a flat surface. Now you need to measure the belt of the product with a tape, from edge to edge, passing under the button along the inside of the belt. After that, all that remains is to multiply the result by two!
The methods for measuring the waist discussed above will help you find out one of the most important parameters of the body of women and men. The girth of this part can become a barometer of the state of the body and warn in time about the need to take care of your health.
Measuring the circumference of the chest for women is a periodic ritual, as the fair sex strives for beauty and perfection. When a lady gains a few extra pounds, she feels discomfort and carefully measures her hips and waist. Nevertheless, there are many methods for measuring the parameters of the human body. There is no single technology. Only in medicine have standards been adopted that make it possible to measure the circumference of a patient's chest using a unified technique. We will talk about it in the article.
Anthropometric calculations
Before determining the circumference of the chest, we suggest that readers familiarize themselves with calculations such as anthropometric standards and indicators.
Anthropometric standards are averaged over sex and age. Deviations of 10 cm are allowed from them. For example, the anthropometric standards of athletes deviate from the norms. With active physical education, the following features are observed:
- the chest cavity is wider;
- the waist and hips can be expanded with muscle mass.
Measurement of the chest circumference should take into account the peculiarities of the constitutional structure of a person (asthenic, normosthenic, hypersthenic). If you are going to measure the circumference, it should be remembered that the anteroposterior and transverse dimensions are normally different for different people.
Anthropometric indicators take into account the individual characteristics of a person. People can have different heights, so the weight should be calculated for each specific person.
When assessing the degree of obesity, doctors also pay attention to the national characteristics of the patient. Persons of Caucasian nationality have a wide chest and short stature. In women, in most cases, a narrow chest. Men have less developed pelvic bones.
Due to the above features, in order to determine the circumference of the chest, one should not only measure the parameters of the body, but also correlate them with many factors.
How is the measurement done
Measurement of breast volume is carried out according to a common algorithm used by doctors and people who control anthropometric indicators.
How to measure volume:
- stand up straight and bring your breathing back to normal. Spread your arms to the sides. Ask the people around you to measure the parameters of the chest, hips, waist, etc. with a measuring tape;
- the circumference of the chest in a man is normally in the range of 85-92 cm. The measurement is carried out between the angle of the shoulder blades in the back and the lower edge of the nipples of the mammary glands;
- first, the distance should be measured on inspiration, and then on maximum expiration. With a normal excursion of the lungs, the chest volume can expand by 5 to 10 cm. Nevertheless, the excursion also depends on the structure of the body.
Results evaluation algorithm
The algorithm for assessing the girth of the chest contains calculated indicators in the form of coefficients and indices. With their help, it is possible to fully assess the physical development of a person.
What indices are used to assess human development:
- weight and height;
- vital;
- proportionality.
Weight and height indices can be used to assess excess or deficiency in body weight. To assess the degree of obesity in patients, doctors use a simple formula: normal weight is the difference in height minus 100.
The proportionality according to the Erisman index for men is in the range of 3-6. It is used to calculate the proportions of one body part in relation to another.
The strength of the physique is assessed by the formula: the difference between the sum of weight and height and the circumference of the chest. This change is carried out by pediatricians in children. If the result is less than 36 - a weak physique. It indicates that the child lacks physical activity.
How to determine the circumference of the chest in children
The chest volume in children is measured in the supine position. In this case, the child should be at rest. His arms should be down. The rest of the algorithm is similar to that used in adults.
The girth should be measured between the angle of the shoulder blades at the back and the areolae of the nipples under the breasts.
In pediatrics, there are special tables that allow you to determine the index by the age of the child.
Normal chest girth in children - the main indicators:
- the circle, contributing to the harmonious development of the child, is located at a level of up to 10 centiles (determined by the table);
- if the girth is in the range from 10 to 25 centiles - a tendency to disharmonious development. It is necessary to observe and adjust physical activity for such a child;
- a circumference of 75 to 90 centiles indicates an expansion of the chest;
- pronounced pathology in children when measuring chest girth is observed when the indicator is less than 3 or more than 90 centiles.
The above measurement algorithm is approximate. By analogy with it, there are many other schemes.
General rules
There are certain rules for measuring the chest wall. We suggest that you familiarize yourself with them:
- The measurement is taken while standing.
- The girth is assessed with calm breathing.
- The difference in size during inhalation and exhalation reflects the respiratory mobility of the lungs.
- In children, it is imperative to measure the circumference of the wrist in the area of \u200b\u200bthe wrist joint. If it is not more than 4 cm, there is a high probability of atrophy or underdevelopment of the muscular system.
- Ideal weight according to Brock's formula (height minus 100) requires an assessment of the characteristics of the constitution and nationality of the patient.
First, you need to measure the volume, girth and other anthropometric indicators. Then compare them with averaged tables and exclude individual characteristics of a person.
In conclusion, it should be noted that the ideal for each person is different.
I. Preparation for the procedure:
1. Introduce yourself to the patient, explain the purpose and course of the procedure.
Make sure that the patient has informed consent for the upcoming procedure.
II. Procedure execution:
2.Place a measuring tape on your back along the lower corner of the shoulder blades, and on the front surface of the chest at the level of 4 ribs, in men this line coincides with the line of the nipples, and in women above the mammary glands.
3. Take three measurements:
With calm breathing;
At maximum inspiration;
At maximum exhalation.
III. End of procedure:
4. Record all three centimeter readings on the temperature sheet.
Remember:
Normally, the difference in readings at maximum inhalation and exhalation is:
1.Female - 4-9 cm.
2. For men - 6-12 cm.
The circumference of the chest for men is 88-92 cm, for women - 83-85 cm. Indicators vary depending on physical development.
The value of height, weight, chest circumference is necessary to obtain various indicators (indices).
1. Height-weight indicator... It characterizes body weight proportional to height. To calculate it, the body weight in kilograms is multiplied by 100 and divided by the growth rate in centimeters.
The average height-weight indicator is 32-40. A higher figure indicates overweight. Lower is about underweight.
2. Proportionality index between height and chest circumference. To calculate it, the chest circumference, expressed in centimeters, must be multiplied by 100 and divided by the height, expressed in centimeters. Normally, this rhubarb index is 50-55 (in normostenics), an index less than 50 indicates narrow chest (in asthenics), more than 55 - for broad chest (in hypersthenics).
3. Pignet index. It is calculated by subtracting from the height, expressed in centimeters (L), the sum of the chest circumference, expressed in centimeters (T), and the body weight, expressed in kilograms (P), i.e. L- (T + P).
For normostenics - the Pignet index ranges from 0 to 20,
For asthenics from 20 to 50
For hypersthenics - below 0
PHYSIOMETRIC INDICATORS.
Physiometric indicators include lung capacity and muscle strength.
Lung vital capacity (VC) is determined using a spirometer.
Spirometry is a method for determining the function of the breathing apparatus. According to the readings of the spirometer, one can judge the function of the cardiovascular system.
Average VC values \u200b\u200bfor adult men are 3.5 - 4 liters (3500-4000 cm 3), for women - 2.5-3 liters (2500-3000 cm 3).
With age, the indicators of VC change and the indicators of patients suffering from diseases of the respiratory and circulatory organs change significantly. The study is carried out 3 times in a row and the best result is noted.
TECHNOLOGY FOR PERFORMING A SIMPLE MEDICAL SERVICE - SPIROMETRY:
1. Place the custom sterile mouthpiece on the spirometer.
2. Place the patient facing the spirometer.
3. The patient takes the spirometer in his hand.
4. Suggest the patient to do 1–2 inhalation and exhalation beforehand.
5. Ask the patient to take the deepest breath, hold his nose and slowly exhale as much as possible through the mouthpiece taken into the mouth.
6. Determine the volume of exhaled air on the scale.
7. Record data in the medical history.
Dynamometry - measurement of muscle strength. The determination is carried out using a hand-held dynamometer in kilograms.
When using an electronic scale, body weight data is reliable, but the following guidelines should be followed to ensure the data is reliable.
The balance is placed on a flat, smooth area of \u200b\u200bthe floor so that it does not wobble. The subject should remain in the minimum amount of light home clothing, without shoes.
After establishing zero on the scales (see below for instructions on working with electronic scales), the subject stands on the scales and stands calmly without swinging, distributing the weight evenly on both legs, without holding onto the surrounding objects. If necessary, the researcher can put his hand on the subject's back to maintain balance when getting up on the scales, but remove his hand as soon as the subject stands on the scales. Body weight is recorded when numbers appear on the balance display. It may be necessary to repeat the weighing procedure twice or three times to obtain a repeatable value.
Points to remember when weighing:
install the scales on a flat, smooth area of \u200b\u200bthe floor;
the subject should remain in light underwear, without shoes;
set the readings 00 on the balance board before the subject gets up on them;
the subject stands on the scales without swinging, distributing the body weight on both legs evenly;
the subject should not hold on to surrounding objects;
the subject should stand still;
write down the number that appears on the scale display;
if necessary, repeat the procedure twice or thrice until repeating values \u200b\u200bare obtained.
3. Measurement of waist circumference
Of all anthropometric measurements, waist circumference is the most difficult. However, patience and attention to the measurement procedure gives reliable results. Waist circumference should ideally be measured without clothes or in the lightest underwear. The man should be asked to lift his shirt, and the woman - a sweater or blouse to free the abdomen in order to take measurements on the skin. If this is not possible, the measurement should be taken through a thin T-shirt, shirt or blouse.
The subject stands straight, his stomach relaxed, his arms are freely lowered along the body, heels are together. The researcher, standing face to face with the subject, covers the narrowest part of the abdomen with a measuring tape, that is, at the level of the natural waist. It is convenient to measure the waist circumference if the examiner kneels in front of the subject. In this case, the subject's abdomen will be at the level of the interviewer's eyes. In obese persons, it is impossible to determine the narrowest point - the natural waist. In this case, the circumference is measured by placing a tape in the area between the edge of the costal arch and the iliac crest. The subject breathes evenly, and at the end of a normal exhalation, the waist circumference is recorded by pressing the tape against the clothing without pressing it into the skin.
Things to remember when measuring your waist circumference:
you need to have patience and pay attention to details;
the measurement is carried out without clothes or in thin underwear at the level of the tape girth;
the subject stands upright;
the stomach should be relaxed;
arms should be located along the body;
heels should be together;
the investigator faces the subject;
the tape is kept in a horizontal position;
the measurement is made at the level of the natural waist, that is, the narrowest part of the abdomen;
measurement is made at the end of expiration;
it is necessary to keep the tape pressed against the body without pressing into the skin;
Measured to the nearest 0.1 cm.
The presence and amount of body fat can be assessed in several ways, each of which has its own advantages and disadvantages.
- The main method, as well as the most common, is the calculation of the body mass index (BMI). This is done every time during the physical examination, when the doctor measures or asks for weight and height. Also, there are many tables and calculators online to calculate BMI. Therefore, each person can easily determine their own BMI on their own.
- Body mass index and other "field methods", which include measurement of waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, skin fold thickness and bioelectrical resistance, are used in clinics and in large-scale research projects.
- More sophisticated methods are magnetic resonance imaging or dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. They are very accurate measurements that are mainly used only in scientific research to validate simpler methods for assessing obesity.
- For safety reasons, some methods are not used in children and pregnant women, or may show inaccurate results in severely obese people.
Below is a brief overview of the most popular methods for measuring body fat, from the simplest to those based on high-tech scans. Their advantages and disadvantages are described.
How to measure your waist and hips correctly
Waist... It is necessary to wrap the tape measure around the waist without pinching it. The waist area is the area of \u200b\u200bthe torso between the lower rib and the upper thigh bone. The measurement itself is usually carried out in the narrowest place - this is approximately in the middle (in the navel area or a couple of centimeters above it). In this case, you need to exhale and relax your abdominal muscles. It is important that the centimeter is parallel to the floor, otherwise the result will be larger.
Hips... Wrap a tape measure around your hips where your buttocks are at their largest.
Body mass index (BMI)
BMI is the correspondence of weight to a person's height. Calculated by the formula: weight (kg) / height (m 2). This is the most common and most accurate method available at home without the use of special devices. Calculator and more information can be found.
BMI norms
pros
- ease of measurements and calculations;
- does not require costs;
- the exact parameters of the norm and deviations are known: normal weight - a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9; overweight - a BMI between 25.0 and 29.9; obesity - BMI is 30.0 or higher.
- very high correlation (connection) with the amount of adipose tissue, which is confirmed by the most accurate methods;
- numerous studies show that a high BMI level predicts the risk of developing chronic diseases and early death.
Minuses
- measurement inaccuracy in certain cases, so fat and muscle mass are not taken into account separately;
- not as accurate results of obesity in older people as in the case of young and middle-aged people;
- on average, when measuring BMI, women show more fat than men, and Asians more than whites.
Just like the waist circumference, this indicator is used to measure abdominal obesity. The calculation is as follows: the waist and hips are measured separately, and then the first number is divided by the second. Find a calculator and learn more.
pros
- good correlation with the amount of adipose tissue, which is confirmed by the most accurate methods;
- lack of cash costs;
- studies show that waist-to-hip ratios predict the development of illness and death in adults.
Minuses
- more chances of error, since two measurements are required;
- it is much more difficult to measure accurately the circumference of the hips than the waist;
- the results are more difficult to interpret than the circumference of one waist (the previous method), since an increase in the waist-to-hip ratio can be caused by both an increase in the amount of abdominal fat and a decrease in muscle mass around the thighs;
- two people with very different BMI scores may have the same waist-to-hip ratio.
- it is usually difficult to make accurate measurements if a person's BMI reaches 35 or above.
Measurement of skinfold thickness
The equipment for this body measurement sends weak, imperceptible and safe impulses through the body - this is how the mass without fat is measured in percent. The principle lies in the fact that the current passing through the fatty tissue experiences greater resistance than other tissues and water. Finally, the equations are used to estimate the percentage of body fat and mass without fat. There are modern household analyzers, including those built into floor weights, which, according to this principle, allow you to estimate the percentage of body fat.
It is most profitable to purchase portable devices of this type by ordering on Aiexpress.com or Amazon.com. It is called "Fat Loss Monitor" there. The easiest option can be found there for about $ 3, but a high-quality device will cost from $ 30. A bathroom scale with a built-in analyzer and body electrodes is even more expensive.
pros
- conveniently;
- safely;
- relatively inexpensive;
- portability;
- speed and ease.
disadvantages
- difficult to calibrate;
- the ratio of water to body fat may change during illness, dehydration or sudden weight loss, which affects the accuracy of measurements;
- not as accurate as other methods, especially in individuals with a BMI of 35 and above.
A method in which a person is first weighed in the usual way, and then in a special container with water. After that, according to the formulas, the volume of the body, its density and the percentage of fat are estimated. Fat is more "buoyant" (less dense) than water. Therefore, people with high body fat have a lower body density than people with low body fat. Typically, this method of underwater weighing is used only for research.
pros
- very accurate method;
disadvantages
- painstaking;
- requires a person to be immersed in water;
- not a good option for children, the elderly, and those with a BMI of 40 or more.
This method uses a similar principle for underwater weighing, but is performed without submersion in water. In this case, a person in a bathing suit is in a small cell. A special machine determines the volume of his body, based on the difference in air pressure in the empty and filled sections of the chamber.
pros
- relatively fast and convenient;
- accurate;
- safe;
- a good choice for children, the elderly, pregnant women, people with a BMI of 40 and above, and anyone else who does not want or cannot dive into water.
disadvantages
- expensive.
Hydrometry
This measurement method requires a person to drink isotope-labeled water. The body fluids are then taken care of and based on their analysis, the total body water and mass other than adipose tissue are calculated. After that, the amount of fat itself is easily established.
pros
- accurate;
- relatively inexpensive;
- safe;
- can be used in persons with a BMI of 40 and above, as well as in children and pregnant women.
disadvantages
- The ratio of body water to lean mass may change during illness, dehydration or weight loss, which affects the accuracy of measurements;
X-rays travel through different tissues of the body at different speeds. According to this principle, this method uses two low-level X-rays to determine fat-free mass, fat mass and bone mineral density.
the exact body mass without fat, as well as - bone density and total fat mass. DERA is used for this purpose only in the course of research.
pros
- accurate.
disadvantages
- very expensive equipment that cannot be moved;
- the inability to distinguish subcutaneous fat from visceral (around the internal organs);
- cannot be used for pregnant women, as it requires contact with a small dose of radiation;
- most modern systems cannot accommodate people with a BMI of 35 or above