[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":289},["ShallowReactive",2],{"page:\u002Fguides\u002Fhow-to-take-body-measurements\u002F":3},{"id":4,"title":5,"authorId":6,"body":7,"description":255,"extension":256,"heroAlt":257,"heroHeight":258,"heroImage":259,"heroWidth":260,"kind":261,"locale":262,"meta":263,"navigation":264,"ownerApproved":265,"pageId":266,"path":267,"productFactIds":268,"relatedIds":271,"resourceAssets":272,"reviewStatus":273,"reviewedAt":274,"seo":275,"sources":276,"status":286,"stem":287,"__hash__":288},"pages\u002Fen\u002Fmeasure-guide.md","How to take body measurements for a repeatable log",null,{"type":8,"value":9,"toc":245},"minimark",[10,14,25,30,33,36,40,49,58,61,65,132,146,149,153,172,180,184,197,215,219,232],[11,12,13],"p",{},"Choose a few body areas, write down how you will measure each one, and use that method again next time. A personal log needs a repeatable procedure as well as a number.",[11,15,16,17,24],{},"The waist diagram marks the bottom of the ribs (1), the top of the hips (2) and the tape midway between them (3). This follows the self-measurement method in ",[18,19,23],"a",{"href":20,"rel":21},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.nice.org.uk\u002Fguidance\u002Fng246\u002Fchapter\u002FIdentifying-and-assessing-overweight-obesity-and-central-adiposity",[22],"nofollow","NICE’s waist guidance, Box 1",". Breathe out naturally before reading the tape.",[26,27,29],"h2",{"id":28},"prepare-the-record-before-the-tape","Prepare the record before the tape",[11,31,32],{},"Have a flexible, non-stretch measuring tape and somewhere to record the result. Use a mirror or another person if you cannot check the tape around your back. Decide whether the log uses centimetres or inches and put the unit in its heading.",[11,34,35],{},"For a simple first session, choose only the areas you intend to keep recording. Write down the side for arms and legs. Set up the date and body-area labels before you start so that a value does not end up in the wrong row.",[26,37,39],{"id":38},"keep-the-tape-level-and-comfortable","Keep the tape level and comfortable",[11,41,42,43,48],{},"Measure on bare skin or over a thin layer that you can repeat. Let the tape touch the body without pulling it into the skin. Check the back as well as the front. ",[18,44,47],{"href":45,"rel":46},"https:\u002F\u002Felht.nhs.uk\u002Fservices\u002Fdietetics\u002Fbody-measuring-techniques",[22],"East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust"," gives these tape-handling instructions and recommends checking a measurement twice.",[11,50,51],{},[52,53],"img",{"alt":54,"height":55,"src":56,"width":57},"A level measuring tape marked 1 and a tilted measuring tape marked 2.",640,"\u002Fimages\u002Fguides\u002Ftape-level.svg",960,[11,59,60],{},"Example 1 keeps the tape parallel to the floor. Example 2 shows a tilted tape. Reposition a tilted or twisted tape before reading it; the diagram is a schematic, not a measurement scale.",[26,62,64],{"id":63},"choose-and-describe-the-landmarks","Choose and describe the landmarks",[66,67,68,84],"table",{},[69,70,71],"thead",{},[72,73,74,78,81],"tr",{},[75,76,77],"th",{},"Area",[75,79,80],{},"Method to repeat",[75,82,83],{},"Note to keep",[85,86,87,99,110,121],"tbody",{},[72,88,89,93,96],{},[90,91,92],"td",{},"Waist",[90,94,95],{},"Find the midpoint between the bottom of the ribs and top of the hips; read after a natural breath out.",[90,97,98],{},"Write “ribs-to-hips midpoint” so it is not confused with a navel-level record.",[72,100,101,104,107],{},[90,102,103],{},"Hips",[90,105,106],{},"Stand with legs together and place the tape around the widest part of the hips\u002Fbuttocks.",[90,108,109],{},"Check that the tape has stayed level at the back.",[72,111,112,115,118],{},[90,113,114],{},"Chest",[90,116,117],{},"Pass the tape under the armpits around the fullest part of the chest; do not puff out the chest.",[90,119,120],{},"Record the clothing and stance you used.",[72,122,123,126,129],{},[90,124,125],{},"Upper arm",[90,127,128],{},"Locate the midpoint between the shoulder and elbow, then measure with the arm hanging relaxed.",[90,130,131],{},"Label left and right separately; keep relaxed and flexed records distinct.",[11,133,134,135,139,140,145],{},"The hip and chest descriptions follow the ",[18,136,138],{"href":45,"rel":137},[22],"NHS techniques page",". The ",[18,141,144],{"href":142,"rel":143},"https:\u002F\u002Fwwwn.cdc.gov\u002Fnchs\u002Fdata\u002Fnhanes\u002Fpublic\u002F2021\u002Fmanuals\u002F2021-Anthropometry-Procedures-Manual-508.pdf",[22],"CDC’s NHANES procedure"," provides a detailed upper-arm landmark method and shows why a standardized position matters.",[11,147,148],{},"For another area, keep a written placement description rather than changing between “widest point” and a midpoint without a note. If a professional has supplied a method for a particular purpose, keep that method as a separate series when it differs from this guide.",[26,150,152],{"id":151},"read-check-and-write-it-down","Read, check and write it down",[154,155,156,160,163,166,169],"ol",{},[157,158,159],"li",{},"Place the tape at your chosen landmark and settle into the recorded stance.",[157,161,162],{},"Check that the tape lies flat and does not dig in.",[157,164,165],{},"Read the scale at the overlap without changing its tension.",[157,167,168],{},"Remove and reposition the tape for a check reading. If the readings differ, check placement and tension before choosing what to record; do not pick the value you prefer.",[157,170,171],{},"Write the date, body area, side, value, unit and a short method note.",[11,173,174,175,179],{},"A fictional entry might read: ",[176,177,178],"strong",{},"28 October — left upper arm — 30.2 cm — relaxed arm, midpoint, same tape",". The number is only an example of a complete record. Keep blank entries blank when you did not measure an area.",[26,181,183],{"id":182},"use-one-unit-for-a-series","Use one unit for a series",[11,185,186,187,190,191,196],{},"A value of 32 in and 32 cm describes different lengths. NIST’s exact conversion is ",[176,188,189],{},"1 inch = 2.54 centimetres",". Use the ",[192,193],"site-page-link",{"label":194,"page-id":195},"centimetres\u002Finches converter","converter"," when translating an old entry, and keep the original unit in your notes.",[11,198,199,200,204,205,209,210,214],{},"The ",[192,201],{"label":202,"page-id":203},"printable measurement chart","chart"," gives you unit-labelled fields on paper. The ",[192,206],{"label":207,"page-id":208},"spreadsheet tracker","sheet"," keeps metric and imperial logs separate. If you use ",[192,211],{"label":212,"page-id":213},"BodyLog","home",", check the displayed unit before entering a measurement.",[26,216,218],{"id":217},"repeat-the-method-next-time","Repeat the method next time",[11,220,221,222,226,227,231],{},"Use the ",[192,223],{"label":224,"page-id":225},"frequency guide","frequency"," to plan the next session. If an entry looks surprising, work through the ",[192,228],{"label":229,"page-id":230},"tracking-error checklist","mistakes"," before comparing it with older values.",[11,233,234,235,239,240,244],{},"For a visual record alongside the numbers, the ",[192,236],{"label":237,"page-id":238},"progress photo guide","photo-guide"," explains how to repeat lighting and framing. BodyLog’s ",[192,241],{"label":242,"page-id":243},"Apple Health integration","health"," supports weight, height, body fat and waist when you choose to connect that workflow.",{"title":246,"searchDepth":247,"depth":247,"links":248},"",2,[249,250,251,252,253,254],{"id":28,"depth":247,"text":29},{"id":38,"depth":247,"text":39},{"id":63,"depth":247,"text":64},{"id":151,"depth":247,"text":152},{"id":182,"depth":247,"text":183},{"id":217,"depth":247,"text":218},"Use a flexible tape, repeat the same landmarks and record dates, sides and units. Follow illustrated waist guidance and a practical recording checklist.","md","Schematic waist tape midway between the lower ribs and the top of the hips, with numbered landmarks.","640","\u002Fimages\u002Fguides\u002Fwaist-placement.svg","960","guide","en",{},true,false,"measure-guide","\u002Fen\u002Fmeasure-guide",[269,270],"units","health-types-directions",[203,208,195,213,238,225,230,243],[],"approved","2026-10-28",{"title":5,"description":255},[277,279,281,283],{"title":278,"url":20},"NICE NG246: waist measurement method, Box 1",{"title":280,"url":45},"East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust: body measuring techniques",{"title":282,"url":142},"CDC: NHANES anthropometry procedures, 2021",{"title":284,"url":285},"NIST: SI conversion factors for length","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.nist.gov\u002Fpml\u002Fspecial-publication-811\u002Fnist-guide-si-appendix-b-conversion-factors\u002Fnist-guide-si-appendix-b9","published","en\u002Fmeasure-guide","OpyYMlSxKXqqAJX14e0pRqL9dbNnjLdxsr-vGsbsabA",1793285410161]