What’s the Ideal Waist Size?

[@NutritionFactsOrg]

This video may be triggering for people with a history of eating disorders. While there is an optimum waist size for health, it is important that one does not go to extreme measures to achieve these numbers, as this can result in devastating physical and mental consequences. For those struggling with an eating disorder, consider checking out www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/. -NF Team

[@themountainsandthesea4121]

Good info, Doc👍

[@i.e.presents638]

Thank you for your thoughtfulness

[@permortensrli1315]

How considerate 😊

[@Ls-wr1cg]

Thank you!

[@kirishima4430]

Appreciate Video! Forgive me for the intrusion, I would love your thoughts. Have you heard the talk about - Patlarny Escape Fat Principle (search on google)? It is a smashing one off guide for getting slim without exercise minus the headache. Ive heard some awesome things about it and my GF after many years got astronomical success with it.

[@danbrown9502]

Dr G is so physically animated when he speaks it practically counts as exercise, lol

[@TheFukwitz]

It looks like deep fake tech its so unreal.

[@Julottt]

😂

[@harleyheartstop8082]

He goes up on his toes a lot...hello calf raises!

[@usheffi]

Expression of interest

[@matsch-o-man]

He suffers from shaking head syndrome.

[@Anarcath]

I went vegan a couple of years ago. Since then I’ve lost 25 lb and all that fat came off from my waist. Went from 40” to 33”.

[@Legitimate123]

Well done! :)

[@yoni-3240]

Good for you! 👏🏼

[@Vegan_4The_Animals]

Great 😁

[@elirothblatt5602]

My favorite nerd. You are the Carl Sagan of today’s health education!

[@Kaletheist]

Didn't he say they were at Cornell together? I forget the specifics

[@educationcentral_]

Your advice saved my life. I've had everything from arthritis to bacne , neurological problems , back and joint pain . All the issues resolved in less than a week on a plant based diet. Unfortunately my bipolar disorder won't go away. Health anxiety , and hypochondriasis might have added years to my life. Because they lead me to a few of your study reviews

[@NewEarthWellness]

If you consume coffee, tea or other caffeine the problem could very likely be the caffeine. Refined sugar can also be problematic. Try giving them up for a month or two and see. For something sweet eat dates or other fruits. The sugar will break down slowly and provide a steady supply of energy and a calm mental state. 😊

[@khajababu1403]

Do u have somatic symptoms ??

[@stargazerbird]

I am a 68 year old women. I take hrt, lift weights, run, have lost 29 lbs over the last year and got to a BMI of 22. My waist is still 36. I think Dr Gregor needs to re think his stance on easy visceral fat lose for my age and gender. It’s insanely hard to get it off. The only thing I can try is more weight lose until I get to a BMI of 19. When I was that weight in my thirties my waist was still around 30/31 though. Some of us are just that shape. Maybe that means apple shapes need to dig down deeper into the lower BMIs? It’s hard work. Especially when your calorie burn goes so much lower as you age, despite increased activity. Basically you have to be extremely active and only eat 1400 calories a day to drop to the desired fat mass. You risk malnutrition doing this long term and I can inform you it’s not any fun being that tired all the time. So less with the breezy ‘It’s easy!’ . It’s not. It sucks. To add to the confusion I am very tall for a woman - five eleven and I have wide shoulders. I find it hard to believe I should have the same waist as my five foot three sparrow boned friend as much as I expect to have the same fat mass at the same BMI as a man. They used to have different charts for the sexes.

[@garethbaus5471]

A more common recommendation is half your body hight, try comparing to that.

[@JC-fx3wh]

What's your height?

[@robertdavis5714]

Doctor wanted to put me on 1/2 dozen Pharma drugs + Surgery to correct health issues. I told her to get bent, became Vegetarian quit alcohol no GMO Foods and lost 100 lbs. Have corrected just about all health issues at hand. So now 155-160 lbs with 31" waist.

[@afranks8566]

How tall are you?

[@robertdavis5714]

5-11 and prior to China Plague went to gym for 15 yrs. so have some muscles as well.

[@peggyharris3815]

Where the ribcage ends and the hip bones start (long or short waisted) matter for waist circumference.

[@megaswenson]

True! In our family, there is practically no distance between the bottom of the ribcage, and the top of the pelvis.

[@sharit7970]

Thanks for doing the research and posting! Good to know that even a relatively small weight loss [if needed] can have huge health benefits. [5:50]

[@kourtenayt1927]

Who loves Dr Gregor? Only doctor i listen to 😊

[@laurenmelissaj]

Summary; less than 80cm for women or 94cm for men.

[@eelkeaptroot1393]

I'm a man with a 84cm waistline, so I'm not too worried.

[@downbntout]

Thank you, this was an important omission.

[@IsentropeMachzahl]

Good stuff! I would still like to see muscle mass discussed more though. In my understanding, increased muscle mass will make you more insulin sensitive (and thus less likely to become diabetic) and increase your BMR (more so than fat). Also, resistance training improves bone density (less risk for fracture) and it is a good idea to carry some excess muscle mass because as Dr. Gregor pointed out, you loose some with age. So resistance training should help extend health span, but maybe not life span.

[@jillianguilford5191]

If the resistance training is done without anabolic steroids there may be no effect on life span.

[@Obez45]

My BMI is 18.5 I've been struggling for years to get it higher - I'm not bulimic or anything like that - what's interesting is there isn't a lot of information of the risks of being underweight

[@minifix]

Hugely underdiscussed issue, and one I've struggled with myself. Everyone seems to brush it away as a great situation to be in. I found it absolutely impossible to gain weight on a WFPB diet and had to resort to cheat foods (whole grain and low salt, but processed nevertheless): pasta, bread, couscous, bulgur, nacho chips, peanut butter, low sugar jam, olive oil. I also eat meat/fish about once a month. Even this diet didn't work for weight gain in my 20s, but after hitting my 30s has allowed me to slowly gain a little bit of weight. WFPB doesn't work that well for skinny people, and even Dr.Greger himself brushes questions away with a "eat more and do resistance training".

[@debbietampasheher3682]

I saw on these videos that 18.5 is good. But Dr Gregor read in studies that because you have less weight your bones aren't worked enough during regular daily activities. So to strengthen your bones and lessen chance of bone fracture when you're older it's a good idea to do weight bearing exercises :)

[@2075vj]

@@minifix what’s WFPB?

[@karenl7786]

@@2075vj whole foods plant based

[@2075vj]

@@karenl7786 thanks! I should’ve known that. LOL

[@Bjifan]

I don't get why we don't have measures for different heights. At 5'11", I'm supposed to have the same waist size as someone 5'1"? I realize it won't make a HUGE difference, but it must make some difference.

[@Freya27395]

I think in cases of dwarfism, the organs grow to their size while the height hinders and since they have to fit them inside themselves they must have the necessary space in their waist

[@stargazerbird]

There is a website that calculates that for you. Sorry, can’t find it now but it’s out there. Yes, of course it makes a difference. As a woman at 5 foot 10 I am allowed a waist about an inch more than a shorter woman. Even when I was skinny with a visible rib cage my waist was 28 while my friends all boasted the required 25 inches. But they were all five or more inches shorter.

[@Bjifan]

@@stargazerbird website would be helpful. Thanks.

[@JoutarouKuujou1]

@@stargazerbird which website?

[@JoutarouKuujou1]

see his other vid on this topic : Waist Circumference Less Than Half Your Height kzbin.info/www/bejne/g36xgoerl9hkadE

[@Dhspat]

Great video as usual.

[@gerardoesquivel9919]

Dr greger only told us the cutline where increased mortality goes up, but not a way to calcultae ideal waist size. The best metric is this: WAIST should be LESS than HALF of your HEIGHT Example, a men at 180cm tall, his waist should be equal or less than 90cm

[@sandyl8748]

Scary, useful, enlightening & encouraging info. for starting the New Year. Thank you again, Doctor!

[@NORMLfan13]

Why isn’t chest circumference taken into account in women? Someone with a size a cup is going to have a much smaller BMI than a double d and that should make a difference in waist size too you can’t expect those same women to have the same waist size and be stable walking around

[@Sara-lf4fb]

Excellent information as usual, Dr. Greger, thank you from windy Wyoming!

[@themountainsandthesea4121]

Hey Wyoming !🖐from grey-skyed Western Oregon.

[@Sara-lf4fb]

@@themountainsandthesea4121 oh it's so beautiful there!

[@vascoamaralgrilo]

Thanks!

[@bunny_smith]

I am always stunned by his videos.

[@theveganbossa]

Interesting facts as always :) Thanks for sharing!

[@kimdavis5631]

The smartest dude in the plant based world!

[@downbntout]

Just reporting the smartest science ☺

[@biancamilione]

What is the correct position for the tape measure? There's a difference of 2.5 inches for me between the thinnest part of the waist and measuring at the belly button.

[@Lenayre]

Measure at the thinnest part. Women's belly buttons tend to be at a slightly lower position than men's so measuring at the belly button isn't very accurate for women.

[@biancamilione]

@@Lenayre thank you!

[@stargazerbird]

@@Lenayre wow, that makes a Huge difference on me. Thanks.

[@Shinibo]

Great video! I would love for you to talk about the opposite topic; becoming too skinny on a plant based diet, and the side effects, plus how to prevent it :)

[@ylonmc2]

easily preventable with peanut butter

[@bw1955]

I’m a really thin guy. Have always been this way, even before going vegan when I ate fast food every day. I just had to eat a bit more after going vegan. Make a point to eat lots of good fats and protein like various nuts and seeds. Once I started doing that, I’m now at the same weight I’ve always been.

[@bunny_smith]

I wish. I’ve been vegan 20+ years. I’ve never even been close to too skinny. Peanut butter is my nemesis.

[@jamesmcgee7723]

Great video Dr G. My mother in law insists that her weight is ok because she is "pear shaped", I would say she has at least an 80 cm waist, I'll just have to keep at her.

[@moonflowervaii]

I love you! 💚 Great video as always. 😄

[@pdblouin]

Waist size is measured at the belly button? If yes, sounds good to me. I was worried about my almost 25 BMI from the past video, but my waist size is 84cm at the belly button.

[@samanjj]

I’m the same boat kind of. Just with in the recommended BMI range but not what doctor Gregor recommended but luckily waist is 32.5. Now I know any extra fat I lose will be cosmetic mostly

[@downbntout]

That's why it's called "peri-umbilical fat". ☺

[@hynjus001]

I seem to be catching up to Dr Greger's age while he appears to be ageing backwards.

[@eatplantslove8657]

Now what is interesting is I went to buy a pair of pants at Brooks Brothers. I was asked my waist and at the time I was a "34" waist. The man said okay I will get you a 38. I said what? He said most clothing manufacturers overtime have changed the measurement of pants due to Americans ever increasing waistline. So a 34 waist in most pants are actually a 38. So this causes people to think they are thinner than they actually are.

[@downbntout]

If a person tries on a garment that is labeled on the smaller side, it's pretty much a guaranteed sale bc the person is happy about seeing that smaller number. It's a decades-old practice called upsizing

[@charlesgrashow6420]

What is the good doctor's waist measurement, bodyweight and BMI??

[@78anant420]

due to dieting and drinking coffee, i got thin from the arms/legs and big from the stomach. My weight is already so low but the belly is so big

[@zukodude487987]

Maybe bodybuilders eat too many animal products, their staples often are 10 eggs for breakfast, meat for dinner, protein shakes (dairy based) and lots of milk.

[@laurieparis2203]

Protein loading wears out the kidneys. 🌱

[@Nina-hk7ub]

I was a body builder in training. Man! I could eat SOOOO much.

[@Vegan_4The_Animals]

😖🤢🤮

[@mrdave22]

not to mention cancers from too much protein

[@zukodude487987]

@@mrdave22 Exercise does destroy cancer cells tho. I dont think i have heard of a lifter getting cancer.

[@dogdonut3]

When he says that doctors "...miss an opportunity to intervene..." with possibly obese patients, all I could think was: intervene how? Most likely with pills or surgery. I'd prefer to have them intervene with dietary suggestions and guidance, but is that what usually happens?

[@dudleyhardial2273]

I am 5' 4'' and had a waist size of 37 inches. How the hell was that OK. Dr Greger should be more precise and advise that the waist size should be related to height - i.e, your waist size should be less that half of your height. So in my case, it should be 32'' or less. When I had a 37'' waist size, my BMI was over 30 (i.e obese) and I was pre-diabetic, and had problems going up the stairs. I have since reduced my weight by over 55lbs and my waist size is now 30''. So, Dr Greger, please do not give incorrect information.

[@wellthi]

see his other vid on this topic : Waist Circumference Less Than Half Your Height kzbin.info/www/bejne/g36xgoerl9hkadE

[@alexjones-os6mj]

Do healthy waist measurements change with different heights or is it the same for any hight?

[@leftyfourguns]

I think a simple way to put it is, the ideal waist size for most people is whatever their waste size was in highschool. Our skeletons don't continue growing after puberty (quite the opposite actually) so there's no reason to weigh 50+ lbs more in our 30s or older than we did at 18.

[@JC-fx3wh]

That's impossible, our metabolism slows down when we get older.

[@hidingazette]

Keep in mind that a diet book is being sold here. Just about every human study(2015-2020) citing the 2014 study used in this video that indicates weight cycling is better than no weight loss at all disagrees. Repeated results with controls, large sample sizes, and control for confounding factors find significant cardiovascular, diabetes, and mortality risks associated with weight cycling.

[@DaraParsavand]

It would be interesting to see a revisit now that it seems more popular to look at waist to height ratio instead of just waist (with a < 0.5 recommendation being typical). Does that correlate any better that waist alone with health outcomes? Or maybe waist over some function of height (like sqrt or some rational power) is even better. Would be a fun data processing project if I had all the data.

[@Test-eb9bj]

I wished that accurate (!!!) measuring of body fat% would be easier and more accessible as the even the best fat/bmi scales and tools can be highly inaccurate due to hydration status/menstrual cycle/hormones or improper handling.

[@Test-eb9bj]

@@Brian-gk1cd Regarding the big picture I agree. When the problem is visually obvious the % debate is a bit academic. But there is the „skinny fat“ phenomenon -not sure if there is reliable data about the prevalence- and for people who feel therefore safe but e.g. with a family history of chronic diseases that would be helpful.

[@milosmilovanovic6781]

What about waist to height ratio? Increased risk at >50%(for men)?

[@accelerationismnow117]

Yes, there is an increased risk of mortality for men and women with a waist-to-height ratio over 50%. From a recent BMJ article: "Both men and women showed a similar J shaped non-linear response. The all cause mortality risk was lowest at 0.50, after which a sharp linear increase was observed." doi: 10.1136/bmj.m3324

[@DionysisGalanis]

Waist circumference doesn't take account people wearing corsets to change their waist shape! 😂😂😂

[@Nina-hk7ub]

Kardashians. Corsets make their backside look bigger

[@MikeG-js1jt]

Dr. G!! ....."G" for: ges·tic·u·la·tion /jeˌstikyəˈlāSH(ə)n/ noun noun: gesticulation; plural noun: gesticulations a gesture, especially a dramatic one, used instead of speaking or to emphasize one's words. "he punctuated his speech with WILD gesticulations"

[@universalsoldier2293]

Wouldn't weight cycling be the norm? After all, we were designed to store body fat as energy for those times our ancestors didn't have food.

[@Ronniezim]

Is abdominal and waist circumference the same thing?

[@shamssimin]

Can you please give me advise or suggest some reading material to help me with my 5 years old son. He is always unhappy, nagging and not getting along with friends

[@wellthi]

Go unprocessed to avoid neurotoxic additives (eg. acesulfame k in diet coke, or MSG Monosodium glutamate flavor enhancer etc. ), added sugar, high saturated fat also food coloring is linked to ADHD > Dining by Traffic Light: Green Is for Go, Red Is for Stop kzbin.info/www/bejne/r6PNk6uNqbOfaq8 search "sugar chid tantrum" or "sugar mood"

[@clemsonteach80]

Any one know what Greger's waist size is?

[@NewEarthWellness]

For the viewers : This doesn't mean that wearing a corset is the solution to the problem. One part of the solution is to eat a big breakfast and a very small evening meal. That combined with a whole food vegan diet is the best answer.

[@primozmav6473]

Gold.

[@sudd3660]

i like this channel, but there is to much animal testing mentioned. eating plant based is not enough, we need to stop animal abuse as well.

[@cybersphere]

We shouldn't let bodybuilders who use steroids tarnish the value of building muscle, which is essential as we age.

[@usheffi]

Doc I like your videos walk-talk, trademill by example

[@matsch-o-man]

Visceral fat is also easiest to gain. If someone is too thin and wants to gain weight, what grows first? The belly.

[@schuringleon3207]

The 20-22 BMI of the study is a *general* estimate for people of *all* ages. People of younger age may be a little below it, people of older age above

[@maheshjujjavarapu8475]

What's the minimum waist you can get to

[@Nina-hk7ub]

I'm 27-28 inch waist, 140 lbs 5'7".

[@JC-fx3wh]

Is that healthy?

[@Nina-hk7ub]

@@JC-fx3wh Why not?

[@Magemaster91]

Rest in piece R. Piana

[@afranks8566]

147-162😱?!! I'd look like a friggin POW!! Anywhere from 172 to 183 seems to be good for me. I think that's where I'm going to stay.😉👍

[@mrdave22]

yes those numbers are whack!!!

[@dariusrus5335]

Is there an app or site where I can see the waisy and bmi charts together as what they should be ?

[@rafnaegels8913]

first

[@usheffi]

I got my TRIG up during the last year , my doc just called me to improve my diet, otherwise she'll prescribe me her magical medication. Well, I guess I had too many vegan 🍕 during the lockdown here in Aus🇦🇺 (plandemic).🍅🍅🍅 And too much bread rolls, and Vietnamese cigars, they are similar to Morrocan cigars.

[@downbntout]

Just ask yourself at each meal, How can I push the nutrition of this meal a bit higher?

[@usheffi]

@@downbntout yep I'm on it cheers!

[@jaredmallard9986]

What about people of African descent?

[@Nina-hk7ub]

??

[@jaredmallard9986]

@@Nina-hk7ub @4:43 he shows research on the increased risk for metabolic complications associated with waist circumference for Caucasians, South Asians, Chinese, and Japanese. Suggesting there is a difference based on ethnicity. I'm curious about whether there is data for other ethnicities specifically African. He says "most men/women" when looking at the data instead of specifying Caucasians.

[@lindapb6529]

💜

[@alanfunt4013]

Simple rule of thumb; your inside leg measurement = waist.

[@pragooutube]

What? What do you mean? From where to where? You couldn't possibly mean the circumference of your thigh right? Do you mean the measurement from your groin to your foot? 🤷‍♀️

[@kelizabethdawn]

@@pragooutube maybe inseam? Like my inseam is 31 inches

[@mjs28s]

skinny fat. Worst case that I ever experienced was a friend's girlfriend. She looked great...from the outside, but one time I grabbed her upper arm, that looked slim on the outside, but her flesh practically slid out from under my hand like grabbing a plastic bag filled 25% of the way with warm jello. I She didn't weigh over 120lbs at 5'6" but she had practically zero muscle tone. I doubt that she could have opened and already loosen peanut butter jar lid. So sad.

[@Tommy-jc6bk]

So 21 is perfect?

[@You-are-right-but]

"Smaller" In my case

[@downbntout]

Short lives in bodybuilder men? I'm thinking it's bc it correlates with aggression so well, and the belief many have that if they work out and look chiseled, then they couldn't possibly have the big metabolic diseases. Hah. They find out, even before they stop working out.

[@Derwynn]

You’re living in a fantasy world

[@howy3333]

professional bodybuilders are massive and heavy. I wish that this study would have been done on drug free bodybuilders..

[@xiamengbaby]

Where's the correct place to measure your waist? I've heard at the naval, above the naval...

[@zukodude487987]

My waist is currently 104.5cm despite me having eaten pretty much healthy for the last 2-3 months :/ Calories are calories i guess :(

[@wandadibble5426]

The clue is pretty much healthy. You have to do an excellent job of eating a low fat whole food plant based diet if you want to lose weight.

[@zukodude487987]

@@wandadibble5426 I am 😓

[@wandadibble5426]

Then keep a food journal and see how many grams of fat per day that you are eating. To lose weight you need to eat less than 30 grams of fat per day. It may have to be as low 20 grams. You don't them in everything you eat. I cut mine to 20 grams per day and lost 30 pounds in 2 months. I have kept all my lost weight off for over a year. I eat more now but limit my fat intake to small amounts.

[@wandadibble5426]

That is supposed to be you count the fat in everything you eat.

[@zukodude487987]

@@wandadibble5426 20-30g is absurd. I tracked my food on cronometer and the only fatty foods i ate were 15g of chia seeds, 14g of walnuts and 30g of sunflower seeds, all of which is eat only for the health benefits, everything else is low fat like potatoes, oats, broccoli, clementines etc. I have about 72g of fat in there most of it coming from the seeds and nuts. So if i replaced those tiny amounts of fat with more carbs i would at best save me 200kcal a day at the most. This would make no difference since i am often eating 500-700kcal more than i need in the form of low fat foods. It boils down to calories, and not the quality of the food :(

[@usheffi]

Waist size, I think they mean women 90-60-90 😉 doc

[@davidjames5517]

I wonder how many lives Dr Gerber has saved, and how many lives he has extended.

[@jamesmcgee7723]

From the looks of him in 2010 videos, I would say he started with his own.

[@congangbannuocgietdan1410]

I disagree. Body composition gives a better overall picture. People with lower BMI's & smaller waist sizes can be TOFI(Thin Outside, Fat Inside). There are quick scanning body composition measurement machines such as the Inbody 570. It tells the amount of fat in each arm, each leg and the trunk(which comprises mostly of abdominal fat) and the %/amount of skeletal muscles. The scan takes less than a minute. Check with a GNC store near you. They might have it and let you use for free.

[@CathyGoes]

InBody scanners are very unreliable. Get a scan then drink a few large glasses of water and wait an hour before getting another. Your body fat results will be different.

[@lat7805]

The no US people of the planet use metric measures. So, for your no US viewers (if you like us, of course) next time please mention how many centimeters are the 31 inches. Thks

[@accelerationismnow117]

I'm guessing you did not watch the video and only listened to it. At 4:51, you can see right there on the screen the centimeters highlighted. Also, "31 inches to centimeters" in Google would have gotten you a pretty quick result instead of waiting for others to respond to your comment.

[@andreae.]

80cm. It's written on screen; the studies he highlights are in cm, he converts to inches so that people who don't use metric also understand.

[@lat7805]

@@accelerationismnow117 yes, I listened. I'm blind. Sorry bothering you

[@Joseph1NJ]

Whenever I see a woman with a gut, or beer belly, I just assume she has diabetes.

[@dottut7132]

A bit hard to understand your English people with English as a second language like myself Dr, would be better if you speak a bit clearer, please.

[@flattlandermontgomery1524]

Did you know that you can get subtitles on most KZbin videos? On my laptop I can click the letter C and they pop up, otherwise you can click on the little settings icon at the bottom right of the video (within the video, not in the description area) that looks like a circle with spikes and it gives you the option for subtitles. On my cell phone the settings icon is at the upper right of the video.

[@dottut7132]

@@flattlandermontgomery1524 Thank you very much that was really helpful.