At
CCH Wellness, staff do thousands of screenings each year that allow our
Corporate Wellness clients to better assess their overall health. We tackle a variety of
measurements including blood pressure, weight, cholesterol and hearing
so that each of our patients has a variety of methods to measure their
health status and risks. One of the newest methods of quantifying this
is through a waist girth measurement.
Some of you have asked, “why is waist circumference important?”
For Wellness health coaches, this measurement is a reliable way to assess
your risk for type two
diabetes,
heart disease, high blood pressure and even high cholesterol. The data collected from
this measurement aligns very well with an unpleasant stereotype. (We’re
sure that you know that beer bellies or food babies are not healthy.)
Simply stated: If you carry extra weight around your mid-section, rather
than your hips, you are at a higher risk of the health complications I
mentioned earlier.
I often tell my clients that all our important organs are located in the
center of our bodies and truly there isn’t much important going
on around your booty, unless you are Kim Kardashian. Your important organs
like your liver, kidneys, lungs and heart are adversely affected by excess body fat.
A healthy measurement for a women’s waist is less than 35 inches
and less than 40 inches for a man.
According to WebMD, to measure your waist girth:
- Start at the top of your hip bone and bring the tape measure all the way
around level with your belly button.
- Make sure it's not too tight and that it’s straight.
- Don't hold your breath while measuring.
I suggest that you have a friend take the measurement for you, so that
you can ensure the tape is straight and not twisted—and try not
to suck in your belly!
Check out this short
Howcast YouTube video that instructs how to take an accurate waist circumference measurement.
Just so you know, a CCH Wellness health coach will be happy to take a waist
measurement for you and explain your risks associated with your measurement—they
can also help you to take steps to successfully change your waist circumference
if needed.
Have Questions?
Campbell County Health Wellness works to reduce health risks and promote
overall wellness among employee groups and individuals across the northeastern
Wyoming region. To learn more about Wellness, please visit
www.cchwyo.org/Wellness or call 307.688.8051.
This blog was written by Rachel Wilde, CPT, MA, CCH Wellness Services Technician
and Phlebotomist