What is a healthy waist size?

[The Fire Snake]

This might be a very simplistic question, but what is a healthy waist size? You guys in awesome shape with low body fat, what is your waist size?

[slick1235676]

i'd say 32.

[blankall]

lol this question is totally unanserable w/out more information. It differs from person to person. how large is your frame, how tall are you, how much muscle do you have, what do you consider to be "healthy", what are your goals?

This is essentially like saying what is a healthy weight? Varies from person to person.

I'm guessing if you are 5'8'' and 235, unless your name is flex wheeler you probably would be healthier if you lost some weight and thus reduced your waist size.

[plAythiNG]

ok, well can someone please tell me my ideal wasit size, currently i am a 36 inch. i am 6 foot tall, weighingin at 199 pounds (90kg). my goal is to be 89kg in 3 weeks, and after that, long term, i wnat to be weighing in from 85-87kg

[ck85abc]

Keep in mind that your pant size is not your waste size.

[Kaitou]

I think I read somewhere that your pants size is about 2 inches smaller than your real size--if you wear size 34 jeans, you're actually around 36 inches at the waist, usually.

And yeah, I'd say someone in moderately good shape and around 6 feet tall should be 32 inches or so, but again frame and muscle should be taken into account. Anything more than 34 is probably slightly overweight.

Keep in mind, though, that I'm no expert and this is just from general experience.

[depo12]

I think I read somewhere that your pants size is about 2 inches smaller than your real size--if you wear size 34 jeans, you're actually around 36 inches at the waist, usually.

I have to disagree with that. I don't really see how that's possible. If you have a 36 inch waist, you definitely need at least 36 size pants

[FrostFox]

Pant size = waist size as far as I know. If my waist is 38, 36 pants are very tight and 40 pants are loose... so I go with the 38.

Ideal waist size? It all depends on how you're built. If you go down to 5% bodyfat, you can get a 29" waist at 6 feet tall. Realistically, at your height, a 32 inch waist or smaller.

[mr_azz_84]

i am 5'11 with a 34" waist at approx 11%, to get down to a 30" i would have to lose all of the muscle around the middle
waist size = nothing unless you are FAT!

[Kaitou]

I have to disagree with that. I don't really see how that's possible. If you have a 36 inch waist, you definitely need at least 36 size pants

It's entirely possible. When I measured myself (I wear size 34 jeans comfortably) I found my waist to be around 36", but I might have measured incorrectly. You probably know better than I do.

[depo12]

It's entirely possible. When I measured myself (I wear size 34 jeans comfortably) I found my waist to be around 36", but I might have measured incorrectly. You probably know better than I do.

Well depending on how old those jeans are, it's quite possible that they are just broken in...I have about a 31 inch waist and I have size 32 jeans that are HUGE on me

[blueguitar322]

Another vote for the "jeans sizes run two inches large" - I have a 35.5" waist and wear 34's comfortably.

Disclaimer: all pants fit slightly differently

[ShadyShadow13]

again depends on the person structure , thickness , muscle develoment ..
i dont believe much on measurments , ideal weight , ideal height , ideal b.f , waist size ... etc

i think the mirror should be the judge .. coz its an indivisual thing ..

[Bronkko]

i'm 32 inches and still have plenty of fat around my midsection.

theres is no "ideal" we are all structured differently.

[pologod05]

Pant size = waist size as far as I know. If my waist is 38, 36 pants are very tight and 40 pants are loose... so I go with the 38.

no.

Another vote for the "jeans sizes run two inches large" - I have a 35.5" waist and wear 34's comfortably.

Disclaimer: all pants fit slightly differently

yes.

but mainly it depends on how youre built. im built like a stick and at 6'4" i wear 32s for pants.

just to clarify, a healthy waist size is your waist size at what you consider to be a good weight. not much else to it.

[commi]

lol this question is totally unanserable w/out more information. It differs from person to person. how large is your frame, how tall are you, how much muscle do you have, what do you consider to be "healthy", what are your goals?

This is essentially like saying what is a healthy weight? Varies from person to person.

I'm guessing if you are 5'8'' and 235, unless your name is flex wheeler you probably would be healthier if you lost some weight and thus reduced your waist size.

That made no sense and doesent help the op at all. A healthy weight size for a male would be around 30-33 inches. But that is a ''healthy'' size. If you want to go above and beyond to six pack abs you are probably looking at 28 or 29.

[The Fire Snake]

I figured that I would get responses like this, but I thought I would ask anyway. You guys are right it is a very general question, but I am trying to get some reference so I have some thing to shoot for as a long term goal.

Basically I am 5' 8" and about 230lb right now with about a 38" pant size. I used to be about 205lbs with a 34 to 36 pant size. I went through a period where I wanted to gain a lot of muscle and worked out with weights like crazy and did basically no cardio and ate a lot more. I gained weight and got to 220lbs but i was solid as hell. Then a few years ago I got sick and stopped working out all together and all my mass just atrophied(sp?) . I gained a tremendous amount of weight and balloned to about 280lbs. I was eating all the junk in the world and felt like crap. Once I got over my illness I dropped about 30 lbs and got to 250lbs but I was still not working out much or not at all. January 2007 I made a resolution that I was going to get in the best shape of my life and stay there like I had done in the past. In the last 5 months I have gone from 256lbs to 230lbs. I want to get down to about 185lbs. I am very endomorphic. I am not trying to brag or anything, but I am built solidly, like a tank, and have a very large frame with a lot of muscle and fat. I have atleast a 48" chest. I think this is from doing basically a power lifter style workout for years.
My goal is to lose weight and get a much leaner body. I am working out about as hard as I can right now and I am seeing massive results. I have read many posts on this site about weight loss, and most people say don't worry about weight just worry about your measurements. So I figured if I used my waist as a reference, then I could determine how much fat/weight to lose.

[MUFC]

i wear anywhere from 30-36 depending on the pant.

[Bronkko]

I figured that I would get responses like this, but I thought I would ask anyway. You guys are right it is a very general question, but I am trying to get some reference so I have some thing to shoot for as a long term goal.

.

i was shooting for 34.

i now have 32 and am still not satisfied.

i figure 28 will probably be what i want.

[pologod05]

actual waist size doesnt matter. just cut/bulk until youre happy and where you want to be.

[Tommy W.]

waist size is governed by genetics, just like any other body part


tw

[b.spencer]

i was shooting for 34.

i now have 32 and am still not satisfied.

i figure 28 will probably be what i want.

I'm exactly in the same place. Thought 34 was a dream. Now, I'm just under 32, and I'm not satisfied. Don't know if I can make 28 or not, but I'm gonna try in my next cut.

[blankall]

For the most part pant sizes do not run true to size. As people have gotten more obese they have made them larger than listed size. With the exception of certain designer jeans if you are wearing a 32, your actual size is probably closer to a 34. Take a measuring tape to some jeans and find out for yourself. That being said if you wear your jeans lower than you are supposed to they will fit tighter.

[blankall]

actual waist size doesnt matter. just cut/bulk until youre happy and where you want to be.

X2. There are way too many factors to judge what is an acceptable waist size. Just cut to a point where you look healthy and have met your goals.

[MikeAaronB]

X2. There are way too many factors to judge what is an acceptable waist size. Just cut to a point where you look healthy and have met your goals.

X3

Just be healthy.

[MrSinister]

there is no ideal size... waist size isnt just determined by fat, some people have physically wide dimensions of their bone structure which will add or subtract from the measurement.. then theres muscle, obliques, abs, erector spinae(lower back) which also add size..
the answer really is an ideal waist is one which you can't pinch any fat from

[KoaHawaii808]

I'm 6'1 190lbs i have a large frame and my waist is about 32in is that slim for some1 my height and weight. I dropped from 270-280lbs and had a 42in waist trying to obtain the elusive 6 pack

[MarkVanzanko]

27 @ 15% bf

[robertaboone100]

If you’re sporting a large waistline, your risk of dying prematurely is very close. The reason is that belly fat, often fondly referred to as a beer gut or a spare tire, sends out a toxic stream of chemicals can impact the whole body.
Everyone should measure the waist size each month. Measure at your natural waistline, which is below the ribcage and above your hipbone. A waist size over 40 inches in men and over 35 inches in women greatly increases the risk of different chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes etc. The ideal waist size for women should keep under 32 inches and for men under 35 inches.

[ChromGrapher]

27 @ 15% bf

Don't bump 10 year old threads