The scope
The girth of a patient is a very important measure to determine the proportions of the body and is often more important than weight, since weight does not distinguish between fat and muscle mass. However, if you measure the abdominal girth, it quickly becomes clear which patient’s weight is due to more fat mass and which patient is muscular and therefore weighs slightly more. For women, the ideal circumference is often considered to be 90-60-90, with the first 90 referring to 90cm chest circumference, the 60 to 60cm abdominal circumference and the second 90 to 90cm hip circumference.
These body measurements are not only unhealthy but also very difficult to achieve. A healthy abdominal girth depends on the size of the patient as well as on his or her physical activity. The chest circumference is determined with the help of a flexible measuring tape.
The upper part of the body should be undressed, but women should not take off their bra. Now the circumference of the widest part of the breast is determined. This area is usually at the level of the nipples or a few centimeters above.
It is important not to breathe in or out too much during the measurement, otherwise the values will be falsified. The ideal breast measurements are 100cm for men and 90cm for women. However, the average values are somewhat higher in reality.
Men have an average chest circumference of 106cm, women one of almost 99cm. A strongly increased circumference speaks for obesity (adiposity) and increases the risk for different diseases. The waist circumference indicates the circumference of the narrowest part of the abdomen.
This is also best determined with a flexible measuring tape. It is important that the person to be measured is unclothed on the upper body. The waist circumference should be measured soberly.
In addition, the abdomen should not be pulled in, nor should the abdominal muscles be tensed. The ideal waist measurement should be 80 cm for men and 60 cm for women. However, the average values in the population are much higher.
Men have an average waist circumference of 95 cm and women of 85 cm. It becomes particularly dangerous if the measurements exceed 94 cm for men and 80 cm for women. One is then considered overweight and has an increased risk for various diseases, such as diabetes mellitus or cardiovascular diseases.
The circumference of the buttocks is also measured with a tape measure and without clothing. The widest part of the buttocks is measured. The ideal measurements are identical with those of the chest circumference.
For men, the buttock circumference should be 100 cm, for women it should not exceed 90 cm. Again, the reality is different and the average German exceeds these values. On average, German men and women have a buttock girth of 103 cm. An increase of this value speaks for overweight and increases the risk of various diseases.