All tests › Measurements

Waist circumference

Measurements · also printed as Waist, Waist (cm), Waist measurement, Abdominal circumference, Waist size

Typical UK adult rangebelow 94 cm

Women: below 80 cm · Men: below 94 cm

Below 94 cm for men and 80 cm for women are the thresholds UK guidance prints; lower for some ancestries.

What this test measures

The circumference of the waist measured midway between the bottom of the ribs and the top of the hips.

Why doctors request it

Used alongside BMI because fat around the middle carries more weight in doctors' assessments than fat elsewhere.

What commonly pushes it up

Increased abdominal fat
Bloating or fluid

What commonly pushes it down

Weight loss

Everyday reasons for a value outside the range

Where the tape is placed changes it by several centimetres
Thresholds differ by sex and ancestry

About the sample

Tape midway between ribs and hip bone, at the end of a normal breath out.

Written by a UK consultant physician. Typical UK adult reference ranges; your laboratory's own printed range takes precedence.

Got a report with Waist circumference on it?

Upload a photo or PDF and see every line against the range your lab printed, explained in plain English. First report free.

Read my report free

This is an educational summary of results you uploaded. It is not medical advice, a diagnosis or a treatment plan, and it does not replace the doctor who requested the test. If you are worried, or a result is marked outside range, discuss it with your doctor. Written and reviewed by a UK consultant physician. Reference ranges vary between laboratories.