How big should my waist be?

Dr. Mehmet Oz, MD

Cardiology (Cardiovascular Disease)

To maintain optimal health, your ideal waist size should be less than half your height. For the average 5'4" woman, waist size should measure 32 inches or less. The waist of an average 5'10" man should measure 35 inches or less. Use a tape measure and wrap it around your natural waist, which is not at your belt but above your hips.
This content originally appeared on doctoroz.com

Dr. David L. Katz, MD, MPH

Preventive Medicine

Having a large waist size can be linked to serious medical conditions, like diabetes. In this video, Dr. Oz and Dr. Katz discuss ideal waist size.

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Important: This content reflects information from various individuals and organizations and may offer alternative or opposing points of view. It should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. As always, you should consult with your healthcare provider about your specific health needs.

Weight Guidelines

People ask all the time when they begin weight loss, "How much weight is okay to lose?" Unfortunately, there's not one blanket answer for everyone. Factors like your body mass index (BMI) and metabolic rate all factor into determining what your healthy weight loss number should be.

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