Central Obesity

While BMI is commonly used as a measure of obesity, it does not reflect the distribution of fat in the body. Central obesity, which means excess accumulation of abdominal fat, is also a risk factor for many chronic diseases.

For Asian adults, if a waist circumference is equivalent to or over the following limits, it is considered as central obesity, which is associated with metabolic and cardiovascular risk.

How to measure your waist circumference?

1. Remove items that placed around abdominal area.
2. Breathe out normally, wrap a measuring tape around the waist.
3. Measure halfway between your lowest rib and the top of your hipbone, roughly in line with your belly button.
4. Make sure the tape is snug, without compressing the skin.