Everything You Need To Know About Finding Your Natural Waist

Finding the right size clothing can be confusing and challenging, particularly when it comes to understanding the difference between your natural waist size and the waistband of the garment.

If you’ve never measured your waist before, you might not know where your natural waist is.

Everything You Need To Know About Finding Your Natural Waists

In this article, I will cover all you need to know about your natural waist and how to measure it, so you can always get your sizing measurements correct.

So, let’s get started.

We’ve all been there. You’re looking to buy a new pair of jeans or pants, but don’t know what size you are.

The number one rule to remember when buying jeans is that if a clothing brand calls for a waist size in their measurements, they are referring to the waistband of the garment as opposed to your natural waist measurement. 

What Is The Natural Waist?

Your natural waist is the measurement you take around the smallest area of your torso or just above your belly button. However, it is commonly mistaken for the midpoint of people’s torso, which isn’t actually true.

Your natural waistline is the area between the top of your hip bone and the bottom of your rib cage. Generally speaking, it’s fairly easy to find by simply looking in the mirror, standing up tall, and relaxing your stomach by exhaling.

However, it’s important to mention that your waistline may vary in size depending on your genetics, lifestyle, and frame size.

If you naturally have a higher waist, then your natural waist will be closer to your breast. On the other hand, if you have a low waist, then your natural waist will be closer to your hip.

Clothes that have been designed to emphasize your natural waist typically are drawn inwards at the waist to highlight this smallest point of your torso for a flattering fit.

A Guide On How To Measure Your Natural Waistline

Step One – Undress

To start off with, you will first need to remove any clothing that could skew the measurement of your waist.

To get the most accurate measurement, it’s easier to clear your abdomen of any clothing.

Step Two – Place The Measuring Tape In The Correct Position

Next, you will need to place the measuring tape at the top of your hip bone and below your rib cage at the smallest part of your waist.

This is your waist, and where you’ll need to measure the circumference to find out your natural waist measurement.

Step Three – Stand Up Straight And Relax Your Stomach

Make sure that you are standing up straight, and always relax your stomach to ensure that you get a true measurement.

You don’t want to breathe in, as this will increase your chances of taking the wrong measurement and purchasing the wrong size when it comes to buying jeans or pants.

Bearing this in mind, exhale a normal breath out to ensure that you’re relaxed.

Step Four – Take Your Waist Measurement

When you are relaxed and standing up straight, take the measurement by wrapping the tape measure around your waist so that it is parallel to the floor.

Make sure that you aren’t pulling the tape measurement too tightly, and avoid letting the measuring tape fall too loosely.

Step Five – Note Your Waist Measurement Down

Once you have taken your waist measurement, you will need to make sure that you note it down for future reference and so that you don’t forget it!

Tips For Measuring Your Natural Waist

Always Relax When Measuring Your Natural Waist

When you’re relaxed, you will take the most accurate measurement. You don’t want to be in a position where you can’t wear the clothes that you buy because they’re the wrong fit when you’re relaxed. There’s no point in sucking in, as this will lead to an inaccurate measurement. 

Look In The Mirror To Find Your Natural Waist

It can be tricky to locate your natural waist if you’re not doing it in a mirror. Bend slightly to one side and observe where the bend is. Following this, you should wrap the tape measure around your waist loosely where the bend is in your body to locate where your natural waist is accurately.

What Does The Waistline Measurement Mean For Your Health?

While it’s important to understand your waistline for your clothing measurements, you should also be aware that there is a connection between your waistline and your health. 

A larger waistline could mean that you’re carrying excess abdominal fat, which can mean that you’re at a higher risk of developing conditions such as obesity. Other conditions that you should be aware of are:

Diabetes 

Your waist circumference can be a more accurate predictor of type 2 diabetes over BMI, especially for women.

Other reasons for type 2 diabetes developing include but are not limited to:

  • A family history of the disease
  • Having high blood pressure
  • Being overweight
  • Smoking

Inflammation  

People with a larger waist circumference can have higher levels of chronic inflammation. This can lead to a variety of conditions, including:

  • Arthritis
  • Heart disease
  • Alzherimer’s disease

If you’re concerned about your waistline measurement, then you should consider making an appointment with your doctor to discuss your health. That being said, it’s important to recognize that people come in a variety of different shapes and sizes. This also applies to waist shapes!

Some individuals that have what is known as an ‘apple’ shaped waist naturally carry more weight around their middle and tend to be at a higher risk than those with a ‘pear’ shape, where fat settles more around the hips.

It’s also important to note that waistlines are influenced by genetics. This means that while you can lose weight around your waist, you can’t change your body shape or proportions.

In Summary 

So, there you have it! Hopefully after reading this article you have a better understanding of your natural waist and how to take a natural waist measurement. 

Happy shopping!

Maya Garcia
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