Measuring your waist size

Carrying too much fat around your waist can increase your risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer and stroke¹. Check your waist size by wrapping a tape measure around the space between the bottom of your ribs and top of your hips. Guidelines on a healthy waist size differ for men and women.

Men

You should try to lose weight if your waist size is 94cm (37in) or more¹.

Visit your GP for support with losing weight if your waist size is 102cm (40in) or more¹.

Women

You should try to lose weight if your waist size is 80cm (31.5in) or more¹.

Visit your GP for support with losing weight if your waist size is 88cm (34.5in) or more¹.

Find out more about measuring your waist on the NHS website.

Find out your BMI

Use this BMI calculator from the NHS to give you an idea of what a healthy weight range might be for you.

Things to bear in mind about BMI

• The BMI calculator can't tell the difference between muscle, fat or bone².
• Your BMI result doesn't take into account age, sex or muscle mass².
• BMI calculator results don't apply if you have an eating disorder. Please speak to your GP, a pharmacist or NHS 111 for support².
• If you're pregnant, you should enter your pre-pregnancy weight².