Waist not, want not - our guide to
"apples and pears"

Being overweight isn't just a cosmetic problem, it can be a serious health hazard, increasing your risk of developing heart disease and diabetes. The degree of risk not only depends on the amount of excess weight you are carrying, but where this weight has been stored.
 
Men tend to store excess fat around their stomach, developing a beer-belly, or apple shape. Typically, women are more likely to develop a 'pear' shape, storing fat around the hips, bottom and thighs, although some groups of women are more prone to the apple shape, particularly African-Caribbean and Asian women and women during or after the menopause. There are health implications for both apple and pear-shaped people, but carrying your fat around your stomach, carries a significantly greater health risk of diabetes and heart disease.
 
To find out whether you are an apple or pear shape simply measure your waist and use our ready shape reckoner below. To measure your waist place the tape horizontally around the stomach mid way between the bottom of your ribs and the top of your hips. Ensure that the tape is snug and not twisted, and does not compress the skin. Breathe out as normal, and take the measurement.

To find out what your waist circumference indicates, fill in the boxes below. We'll do the rest!