You measure your waist at the natural waistline, which is located between the top of your hip bone and the bottom of your ribs, typically in line with your belly button. To find this spot, you can stand upright and bend gently to the side; the crease that forms is usually your natural waist

. Here is how to measure your waist accurately:

• Remove or pull up any clothing that might interfere with the measurement

• Find your natural waistline as described above

• Breathe out normally to avoid inflating your stomach

• Wrap a tape measure around your waist at this level, making sure the tape is parallel to the floor and snug but not tight enough to compress your skin

• You should be able to fit one finger between the tape and your body to ensure it is not too tight

• Record the measurement where the tape meets itself

This measurement is used not only for clothing sizing but also as an indicator of health, since excess abdominal fat can increase the risk of conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure