Comparisons of waist circumferences measured at 4 sites
Open accessAbstract
Background Waist circumference (WC) is now accepted as a practical measure of adipose tissue distribution. Four body sites for WC measurements are commonly used, as follows: immediately below the lowest ribs (WC1), the narrowest waist (WC2), the midpoint between the lowest rib and the iliac crest (WC3), and immediately above the iliac crest (WC4). Objective We sought to compare the magnitude and reliability of WC measured at these 4 sites in males and females. Design WC was measured at each site 1 time in all subjects [49 males and 62 females, aged 7-83 y, with a body mass index (in kg/m(2)) of 9-43] and 3 times in a subgroup (n = 93) by one experienced observer using a heavy-duty inelastic tape. Body fat was measured in a subgroup (n = 74) with the use of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Results The mean values of WC were WC2 0.99. WC values were significantly correlated with fatness; correlations with trunk fat were higher than correlations with total body fat in both sexes. Conclusions WC values at the 4 commonly used anatomic sites differ in magnitude depending on sex, are highly reproducible, and are correlated with total body and trunk adiposity in a sex-dependent manner. These observations have implications for the use of WC measurements in clinical practice and patient-oriented research.
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Waist circumference can assess body fat distribution by measuring the distance around the abdomen in different anatomical locations.
“Waist circumferences can assess body fat distribution by measuring the distance around the abdomen in different anatomical locations [56].”
From Advantages and Limitations of the Body Mass Index (BMI) to Assess Adult Obesity (2024) · cites this paper as [56]
Waist circumference provides a general measure of abdominal fat without distinguishing between subcutaneous fat and visceral fat.
“One disadvantage of using waist circumference to assess body fat distribution is that it provides a general measure of abdominal fat without distinguishing between subcutaneous fat and visceral fat.”
From Advantages and Limitations of the Body Mass Index (BMI) to Assess Adult Obesity (2024) · cites this paper as [56]
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“Waist circumferences can assess body fat distribution by measuring the distance around the abdomen in different anatomical locations [56].”
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Self-citation
- Authors
- Wang, J., Thornton, J. C., Bari, S., Williamson, B., Gallagher, D., Heymsfield, S. B., Horlick, M., Kotler, D., Laferrère, B., Mayer, L., Pi-Sunyer, F. X., & Pierson Jr, R. N.
- Affiliations
- St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center (US)
- Corresponding author
- Wang, Jack
- Venue
- The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2003-02
- Volume
- 77
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 379-384
- ISSN
- 0002-9165 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2103882219
- Cited by
- 567
- References
- 2
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 24 · 2019: 21 · 2018: 23 · 2017: 17 · 2016: 34 · 2015: 22 · 2014: 39 · 2013: 34 · 2012: 43
- FWCI
- 9.80
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (DK 42518)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Body Composition Measurement Techniques
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Diabetes, Cardiovascular Risks, and Lipoproteins
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Cardiovascular Disease and Adiposity
- Keywords
- waist circumference, body fat distribution, trunk fat, total body fat, measurement reproducibility, sex differences, body mass index, obesity assessment
- MeSH terms
- Abdomen, Adipose Tissue, Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Analysis of Variance, Anthropometry, Body Composition, Body Constitution, Child, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Predictive Value of Tests, Sensitivity and Specificity, Sex Characteristics, Viscera, Reproducibility of Results, Absorptiometry, Photon, Body Mass Index
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