§ 01
Body Composition
Clinical fitness assessment

Waist Circumference

Assess central adiposity and cardiometabolic risk.

Equipment

Flexible tape measure.

The protocol
  1. 01Client stands with feet together, arms at sides, abdomen relaxed.
  2. 02Locate the narrowest point between the lowest rib and the iliac crest (usually at or near the navel).
  3. 03Wrap the tape horizontally around the waist at this point.
  4. 04Ensure the tape is snug but not compressing the skin.
  5. 05Take the reading at the end of a normal exhalation.
  6. 06Record two measurements and average them.
What to watch for
  • Tape not horizontal — angled tape gives inaccurate readings.
  • Client holding their breath or sucking in their stomach.
  • Measuring over thick clothing.
Normative scoring

Men: <94 cm low risk, 94-102 cm increased risk, >102 cm substantially increased risk. Women: <80 cm low risk, 80-88 cm increased risk, >88 cm substantially increased risk.

Run it with GainPT

Run this test with branded client reports.

GainPT scores Waist Circumference against published normative data and turns it into a clean, GainPT-branded PDF your client keeps. All 47 clinical tests, unlimited retests — free to start, no card required.