How to Measure the Waistline and Hips

Taking your body's measurements gives you a good indication whether or not your diet and exercise routine are working. It also tells you whether you are at an increased health risk. Fat around the waistline can increase your risk for heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke and certain cancers. To keep track of your measurements, it is important to measure in the same manner each time.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring tape
• Mirror

Show More

Instructions

• 1

  Strip down to your underwear. When taking measurements, you don't want to include the bulk that clothing adds to the inches measured. Your underwear should be form-fitting and feet should be bare.

• 2

  Stand straight up, with your feet hip-width apart, in front of a mirror. The mirror will allow you to stand up straight when taking your measurements instead of bending forward.

• 3

  Find the narrowest part of your waistline. A good way to locate this area is by taking the midway point between the bottom of the rib cage and the top of your hip bone.

• 4

  Pull the tape measure taut, so it lies flat against your skin, as you measure around the girth of your waist. Always take your measurements from the same side of the body. If you take your own measurements, it's easiest to read the measuring tape from the front of your body.

• 5

  Write down the circumference of your waistline.

• 6

  Place feet together to measure your hips.

• 7

  Find the fullest part of your hips. This is the location where you butt is protruding the most.

• 8

  Measure around the girth of the hips while holding the tape measure taut and parallel to the floor.

• 9

  Read the results at the front of the body and write them down.