Look at Your Waist and Hips

One of the best ways to self test yourself for symptoms of obesity is to simply use body tape. In fact, body tape blows away using a scale and the ridiculous over used BMI guide (I absolutely hate BMI... its a joke). You should also put this to use for any body fat reducing endeavor. Obviously the best way of testing is still hydrostatic and skinfold calipers (as long as the administrator knows how to use it), but this is still a great way to self check. All you have to do is check your measurement at waist level (either directly on navel or slightly above) and the hip level. The most important is the measurement being at the waist. This is where the dreaded visceral fat can easily store up around your vital organs underneath the abdominal wall. This fat storage leads to many cardiovascular and digestive problems. We all know some guy that has a seriously hard stomach about the size of a keg. The deception is the muscle is pushed forward so the stomach is hard to the touch but underneath the vitals organs are fighting for space with oozing fat. You can't deceive the the body tape.

Here is the breakdown to make sure you are healthy:

Men your waist measurement should be below 37 inches (94 cm)! If not get training now and eat right.

Women your waist needs to be below 31.5 inches (80 cm)! If not quit wasting time on that mindless treadmill and really start training and eating right.

Check out the many articles I wrote to get started at The Fitness Road

The hip ratio portion is really hard to tell if you are out of shape or not. Some of us have seriously big engines (butts) for power and speed. Some of us have wider hips. I usually don't bother with hip stipulations. This area should reduce just like the waist BUT the waist should be lower than hip in the ratio.