String Theory ... Why My Waist Size ....

Measuring your waist is a good way to check you are not too fat around your stomach. Eating too much calories than we burn, stored in the body as fat over time, if you are trying to lose weight, it is good to eat less and be more active.

Any idea what your waist measurement is at the moment? Did you know that, regardless of your height or weight, a healthy waist measurement should be under 80cm (32”) for a woman and 94cm (38”) for a man? 

Any measurement over these guidelines indicates that you are carrying too much visceral fat and when fat is stored around your internal organs, such as your heart, liver and pancreas, it could mean you are significantly increasing your risk of developing a serious illness. 

These include heart disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer and all sorts of other nasties, so it’s really important to keep tabs on the status of your stomach!

If you don’t have a tape measure to hand but you do happen to have a humble piece of string, there is another method you can use to determine if you have too much pudgy stuff around your midriff - without resorting to any arithmetic. The ‘String Test’ - which measures your height to waist ratio, could be a more accurate way of determining if you as an individual are packing too much paunch.

Here’s how to do it: 

First of all, cut a piece of string long enough to measure your height. Measure from your heel to the top of your head, then fold the string in half. The folded string should then be able to fit around your middle; the ends of the string must at least meet but preferably overlap. If the two ends do not meet, you are carrying too much belly fat. A healthy waistline should measure less than half your height.

The good news is that once you start to apply the simple rule of less calories consumed + more calories burned, the visceral fat is consumed by the body for energy, which equals less excess fat stored around your vital organs, keeping you much healthier and potentially adding years to your life. Remember to keep your piece of string handy for regular check-ups around the stomach area!