UK Women Need To Watch Their Waistlines

Data from 30,000 women from around the UK shows that 57% have waists larger than the recommended healthy size.

Experts from the charity Nuffield Health fear that the weighty issue will lead to an increased chance heart disease, type 2 diabetes, infertility and cancer.

• The average waist measurement for women is 84.9cm compared with the healthy size of 80cm
• Women in the North of England have the largest waists (average circumference of 87cm) compared to 81.9cm in London
• Over 50% of women have a body mass index (BMI) higher than the healthy range
• Over 16% are moderately or morbidly obese

“Whilst waist size may seem like a cosmetic issue, this isn’t about women fitting into their skinny jeans,” says Dr Davina Deniszczyc from Nuffield Health. “Rather, it’s an important indicator of overall health and well-being, particularly when taken into account with other health measurements.”