Editing Body mass index (section)

===Waist circumference===
{{Main|Waist-to-height ratio|Waist-to-hip ratio}}
Waist circumference is a good indicator of [[visceral fat]], which poses more health risks than fat elsewhere. According to the U.S. [[National Institutes of Health]] (NIH), waist circumference in excess of {{cvt|1020|mm}} for men and {{cvt|880|mm}} for (non-pregnant) women is considered to imply a high risk for type 2 diabetes, [[dyslipidemia]], [[hypertension]], and [[cardiovascular disease]] CVD. Waist circumference can be a better indicator of obesity-related disease risk than BMI. For example, this is the case in populations of Asian descent and older people.<ref>{{cite web |title=Obesity Education Initiative Electronic Textbook – Treatment Guidelines |url=http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-pro/guidelines/current/obesity-guidelines/e_textbook/txgd/4142.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170501084223/https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-pro/guidelines/current/obesity-guidelines/e_textbook/txgd/4142.htm |archive-date=1 May 2017 |access-date=29 July 2016 |website=US National Institutes of Health}}</ref> {{cvt|940|mm}} for men and {{cvt|800|mm}} for women has been stated to pose "higher risk", with the NIH figures "even higher".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/849.aspx?CategoryID=51|title=Why is my waist size important?|website=UK HNS Choices|access-date=29 July 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160806210351/http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/849.aspx?CategoryID=51|archive-date=6 August 2016}}</ref>

Waist-to-hip circumference ratio has also been used, but has been found to be no better than waist circumference alone, and more complicated to measure.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/obesity-prevention-source/obesity-definition/abdominal-obesity/|title=Waist Size Matters|website=Harvard School of Public Health|date=2012-10-21|access-date=29 July 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821092935/https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/obesity-prevention-source/obesity-definition/abdominal-obesity/|archive-date=21 August 2016}}</ref>

A related indicator is waist circumference divided by height. A 2013 study identified critical threshold values for [[waist-to-height ratio]] according to age, with consequent significant reduction in life expectancy if exceeded. These are: 0.5 for people under 40 years of age, 0.5 to 0.6 for people aged 40–50, and 0.6 for people over 50 years of age.<ref>{{cite web | author = HospiMedica International staff writers |url=http://www.hospimedica.com/critical-care/articles/294746805/waist-height-ratio-better-than-bmi-for-gauging-mortality.html |title=Waist-Height Ratio Better Than BMI for Gauging Mortality |date=18 Jun 2013 |access-date=7 April 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160417064352/http://www.hospimedica.com/critical-care/articles/294746805/waist-height-ratio-better-than-bmi-for-gauging-mortality.html |archive-date=17 April 2016 }}</ref>