The ratio of hip-to-waist size has been used to define obesity and disease risk. Experts now believe that waist measurement alone is a more important reflection of health risk than that of the traditional waist-hips ratio.

Facts about waist measurements:

• A waist measurement greater than 35 inches adds additional heart disease and diabetes risk to those with a BMI that is over 30.
• The waist measurement is not reliable in those with a BMI that that is less than 25.