A weight scale allow a person to recieve a single number that corresponds to there weight. However, the scale does not show in what parts of the body a person store fat. The location of fat in the body have an impact on a person’s health.
The location at which a person’s fat is stored can determine many health risk for those individuals. One way of measuring a person’s waist-to-hip ratio is with use of a flexible tape. To measure the ratio, the person should stand in they natural position, without wearing any shoes.
How to measure your waist to hip ratio and why it matters
The person should breathe normal during the process of measuring their waist and hip measurements. The tape should be placed at the navel to determine the waist measurement. The person should place the tape at the widest part of the persons hips to determine the hip measurement.
The waist-to-hip ratio is obtained by dividing a person’s waist measurement by their hip measurement. This number is useful in determining the shape of the body of the individual measuring the ratio. A waist-to-hip ratio can reveal the risk of an individual’s health in three different category.
Low waist-to-hip ratios falls within a green zone for health risks. Waist-to-hip ratios that fall in the mid-range of measurements is within a yellow zone, which shows that a change to the person’s lifestyle may be helpful. High waist-to-hip ratios indicate that the individual’s health risks fall within the red zone, indicating health risks like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure.
These categories are different for men and women; it is important for an individual to check the specific column for their sex within the waist-to-hip ratio chart. An individual’s body shape can affect their waist-to-hip ratio. If an individual has an apple shaped body, they will have a higher waist-to-hip ratio due to the storage of fat in the torso.
If an individual has a pear-shaped body, they will have a lower waist-to-hip ratio because the body store the fat in the hips and thighs. An hourglass or rectangle body shape falls somewhere in between the apple and pear shape. Individuals with the same weight can have drastically different health outlooks because of these differences in body shape.
Another measurement of fat in the body is the circumference of the waist. Even with a lower weight, an individual can have a high amount of abdominal fat. In this case, both the waist-to-hip ratio and the waist circumference should be measured to give a complete understanding of the health of an individual.
A waist-to-hip ratio is different than the Body Mass Index (BMI) of an individual. The BMI of an individual is calculated with their height and weight; the BMI cannot reveal where fat is stored in the body. The circumference of the waist reveals the size of the abdomen.
The waist-to-hip ratio provide information regarding the proportions of an individual’s body. High waist-to-hip ratios is associated with health risks due to the impact of visceral fat upon the body. Visceral fat is fat that is stored around the organ in the body.
This type of fat can increase the amount of inflammatory compounds in the body. Visceral fat can also disrupt insulin function in the body, which can lead to health issues such as high blood pressure and strain upon the liver. These health risks take place over a long period of time, so tracking the waist-to-hip ratio over many month will allow individuals to understand how their body is changing.
An individual can change their waist-to-hip ratio. Performing aerobic exercises, such as walking or cycling, can help burn the visceral fat that is stored around the bodys organs. Strength training can help an individual gain muscle.
Muscle add to the resting metabolism of the body. An individual can also improve their waist-to-hip ratio by reducing the amount of refined carbohydrate and added sugar that enters their diet. The person should maintain the intake of protein and fiber at an even level in the diet.
An individual’s sleep and stress level should also be manage. If an individual experiences high levels of stress, they will secrete more cortisol, which can cause their body to store more fat around its middle region. An individual can utilize a waist-to-hip ratio to assess their health.
For those with high waist-to-hip ratios, it is a warning that some change to their habits are required. An individual can use this number to make adjustments to their lifestyle to improve their health before they develop health issue. By tracking their waist-to-hip ratio, an individual gain an understanding of how their body is responding to the way in which they live their lives.
