Body measurements
Waist circumference
Waist size
Included in Baseline and Complete, measured during at-home visits.
Compare membershipsWhere you carry weight matters.
Waist circumference is a tape-measure reading around your middle. It gives a simple estimate of abdominal fat, which is more closely linked with heart and metabolic risk than weight alone.
Your waist adds what BMI misses.
Two people with the same BMI can carry fat very differently. Canada's adult obesity guideline recommends measures such as waist circumference alongside BMI, because where fat sits is linked with heart and metabolic risk.
A tape measure can't separate fat under the skin from deeper fat around the organs, so waist size is an estimate. Measuring the same way each time makes changes easier to compare.
Your waist shows where weight sits, which BMI can't.
Questions
How is my waist measured?
Your phlebotomist measures it with a tape around your middle during your at-home visit, since body measurements are taken at home only. Standing relaxed and breathing out normally helps keep readings consistent.
Is the same waist size healthy for everyone?
No. Risk thresholds for waist size differ by sex and ethnicity, so your result is read with that in mind, along with your blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol results.