Okuzeka
Nutrition & Dietetics vocabulary · Nutrition Assessment

Waist circumference

Meaning in nutrition & dietetics, with examples

nounCommon term

In nutrition & dietetics, waist circumference means: A measurement around the waist, usually taken midway between the lowest rib and the top of the hip bone, used to estimate fat stored around the abdomen.

In Turkish: bel çevresi

How it is used

Used with BMI in clinics and research because abdominal fat is linked to heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Cut-off points differ by sex and ethnic group. Related measures are waist-to-hip ratio and waist-to-height ratio. Staff 'measure' or 'record' waist circumference.

Example sentences

  1. Waist circumference was measured at the end of a normal breath out.

  2. Even with a normal BMI, a large waist circumference can point to a higher health risk.

Common collocations

  • measure waist circumference
  • waist-to-hip ratio
  • waist-to-height ratio
  • abdominal obesity
  • BMIBody mass index: a person's weight in kilograms divided by the square of their height in meters. It is used to classify adult weight as underweight, normal weight, overweight or obesity.
  • anthropometric measurementsMeasurements of the size and proportions of the body, such as height, weight, waist circumference, skinfold thickness and mid-upper arm circumference, used to assess nutrition and growth.
  • obesityA chronic condition in which a person has excess body fat that may harm their health. In adults it is commonly defined as a body mass index of 30 or more.
  • body compositionThe proportions of fat, muscle, bone and water that make up a person's body. It gives more information about health than body weight alone.

More terms: Nutrition Assessment

Practise with graded reading

Reading at the right level is the fastest way to make new words stick. Pick free English books by level:

This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.