What is a healthy belly size?

What should your waist measurement be? For men, a waist circumference below 94cm (37in) is 'low risk', 94–102cm (37-40in) is 'high risk' and more than 102cm (40in) is 'very high'. For women, below 80cm (31.5in) is low risk, 80–88cm (31.5-34.6in) is high risk and more than 88cm (34.6in) is very high.

bhf.org.uk - Measuring your waist - Heart Matters - BHF

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Why your waist size matters

Measuring your waist can help reduce your risk of heart and circulatory diseases, as Professor Naveed Sattar tells Senior Cardiac Nurse Emily McGrath.

Why does your waist measurement matter?

Waist circumference is a good measure of fat around your middle. This type of fat builds up around your organs, and is linked to high blood fat levels, high blood pressure and diabetes. A larger waist usually also means there is excess fat inside your organs. When this happens in your liver, for example, it pumps out too much fat and sugar into the blood, increasing your risk of coronary heart disease and diabetes. Want to get fit and healthy? Sign up to our fortnightly Heart Matters newsletter to receive healthy recipes, new activity ideas, and expert tips for managing your health. Joining is free and takes two minutes. I’d like to sign up

What should your waist measurement be?

For men, a waist circumference below 94cm (37in) is ‘low risk’, 94–102cm (37-40in) is ‘high risk’ and more than 102cm (40in) is ‘very high’. For women, below 80cm (31.5in) is low risk, 80–88cm (31.5-34.6in) is high risk and more than 88cm (34.6in) is very high. These are the guidelines for people of white European, black African, Middle Eastern and mixed origin. For men of African Caribbean, South Asian, Chinese and Japanese origin, a waist circumference below 90cm (35.4in) is low risk, and more than that is ‘very high risk’ (there isn’t a ‘high risk’ category). For women from these groups, below 80cm (31.5in) is low risk, and anything above is very high risk.

Why does your ethnic origin make a difference?

African Caribbean, South Asian, Chinese and Japanese people tend to carry more fat and less muscle at the same weight as a white European. And the risk of diabetes and heart and circulatory diseases starts to increase at a lower weight gain than for Europeans.

Is this the best way to understand whether you are overweight?

It’s good because it’s easy to understand. Doctors are more likely to use body mass index (BMI), a measure of weight relative to your height – use our BMI calculator. Waist measurement is better for people who carry a lot of muscle and less fat, like bodybuilders, boxers and rugby players. If you want to eat more healthily and lose weight, it’s best to measure how much weight you lose or put on. Losing weight will help your waist measurement too. How to measure your waist Find the bottom of your ribs and the top of your hips. Place a tape measure around your middle at a point halfway between them (just above the belly button). Make sure it’s pulled tight, but isn’t digging into your skin. Breathe out naturally and take your measurement. Take your measurement again, just to be sure.

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Why do Japanese hang curtains in doorways?

It is thought that noren originally appeared during the Heian Period (794-1185), where they were used to keep houses cool, or retain heat during colder weather. Gradually, businesses started using them to guard entrances from dust, dirt, bad smells and smoke; a function they still carry out today.

japanobjects.com - What are Noren? 20 Things to Know About Japanese Curtains

At first glance, noren appear to be curtains as you would encounter in any western home. However, the shoji windows found in traditional Japanese architecture have no need for curtains; they are sliding wooden frames covered by translucent paper. It’s also worth noting that some traditional Japanese windows are circular in shape and serve as a unique way to view nature. You can see therefore, that Japanese curtains did not develop to cover windows, but rather to compartmentalise space and divide rooms into separate areas. Another important difference between noren and standard window curtains, is that the latter are designed to sit open during the day, generally pulled to one end of a curtain rail. Japanese noren on the other hand generally remain in place at all times, and are pushed aside momentarily to allow entry or exit. The final significant difference stems from this fact that noren remain ‘closed’ at all times: so to avoid blocking out all the light from a doorway, they tend to be much shorter than curtains, typically coming down to only around shoulder height.