Waist

Waist

The waist is the part of the abdomen between the rib cage and hips. On proportionate people, the waist is the narrowest part of the torso.

Waistline refers to the horizontal line where the waist is narrowest, or to the general appearance of the waist. People who diet are often said to be trying to "improve" their waistline.

Women tend to have narrower waists than menFact|date=November 2007.

Fashion

The waistline of clothing generally corresponds to the human waist.

Traditionally belts are worn around the waist.

Jewelry, such as a belly chain, may be worn around the waist.

Waist-hip ratio

Waist-hip ratio is the ratio of the circumference of the waist to that of the hips. It measures the proportion by which fat is distributed around the torso.

A waist-hip ratio of 0.7 for women and 0.9 for men have been shown to correlate strongly with general health and fertility.

Hip and buttock padding is used by some males who cross-dress as females to increase the apparent size of the hips and buttocks to resemble those of a female.

Waist measurement

The size of a person’s waist or waist circumference, indicates abdominal obesity. Excess abdominal fat is a risk factor for developing heart disease and other obesity related diseases. The National, Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) [cite journal| title=Obesity Education Initiative, Aim for a Healthy Weight| url=http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/obesity/lose_wt/risk.htm] classify the risk of obesity related diseases as high if: men have a waist circumference greater than convert|102|cm|in|abbr=on, and women have a waist circumference greater than convert|88|cm|in|abbr=on.

A study published in The European Heart Journal April 2007 [cite journal| title=Waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio as predictors of cardiovascular events: meta-regression analysis of prospective studies| author=Lawrence de Koning| year=2007| journal= European Heart Journal| url=http://eurheartj.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/28/7/850| pmid=17403720| doi=10.1093/eurheartj/ehm026| volume=28| pages=850] showed waist circumference and waist-hip ratio were predictors of cardiovascular events.

Waist reduction and training

According to a study,Fact|date=April 2008 women waistlines have grown by convert|4.3|cm|in|abbr=on in the last 10 years from an average of convert|80.8|cm|in|1|abbr=on to convert|85.1|cm|in|1|abbr=on inches believed to be caused by sedentary lifestyle.

Waist reduction or waist training refers to the act of wearing a corset or other constricting garment to reduce or alter the waistline. The four floating ribs may be permanently compressed or moved by such garments. A girdle may also be used to alter the appearance of the waist and inhibits one's ability to breathe well.

Waist reduction may be used simply to reduce the width of the waist. This change can be permanent or temporary.

Waist training may be used to achieve a certain permanent waist shape, such as a pipe-stem waist.

ee also

*Belly chain
*Navel piercing
*Waist-hip ratio
*Human physical appearance
*Fashion
*Beauty
*Body modification
*
**Tightlacing
**Training corset
**Hourglass corset
**Waist cincher corset
*Rib removal

References

External links

* [http://www.waspcreations.com/torso.htm Wasp Creations] — corset silhouettes
* [http://laracorsets.com/History_of_the_corset_001_Start_page.htm Lara Corsets & Gowns] — historic corset silhouettes


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • waist — waist; waist·band; waist·coat; waist·coat·ed; waist·ed; waist·er; waist·less; shirt·waist·er; …   English syllables

  • Waist — Waist, n. [OE. wast; originally, growth, akin to AS. weaxan to grow; cf. AS. w[ae]stm growth. See {Wax} to grow.] [1913 Webster] 1. That part of the human body which is immediately below the ribs or thorax; the small part of the body between the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • waist — [weıst] n 1.) the narrow part in the middle of the human body ▪ The skirt was too big around the waist. from the waist up/down (=in the top or bottom half of your body) ▪ Lota was paralysed from the waist down. stripped to the waist (=not wearing …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • waist — [ weıst ] noun count ** 1. ) the middle part of the human body that is usually narrower than the parts above and below: Jim put his arm around Carmen s waist. Marie wore a wide black leather belt round her waist. from the waist down/up: The… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • waist — (n.) middle part of the body, also part of a garment fitted for the waist, late 14c., probably from O.E. *wæst growth, hence, where the body grows, from P.Gmc. *wahs tu (Cf. O.E. wæstm, O.N. vaxtr, Swed. växt, O.H.G. wahst growth, increase, Goth …   Etymology dictionary

  • waist — [wāst] n. [ME wast < base of OE weaxan, to grow, WAX2: sense development: growth (of body), hence size, thickness] 1. the part of the body between the ribs and the hips 2. a) the part of a garment that covers the waist b) WAISTLINE …   English World dictionary

  • waist — waist. См. перехват. (Источник: «Англо русский толковый словарь генетических терминов». Арефьев В.А., Лисовенко Л.А., Москва: Изд во ВНИРО, 1995 г.) …   Молекулярная биология и генетика. Толковый словарь.

  • waist — ► NOUN 1) the part of the human body below the ribs and above the hips. 2) a narrow part in the middle of something such as a violin or hourglass. DERIVATIVES waisted adjective. ORIGIN probably from an Old English word related to WAX(Cf. ↑waxer) …   English terms dictionary

  • waist — noun 1 part around the middle of the body ADJECTIVE ▪ narrow, slender, slim, small, thin, tiny ▪ 34 inch, etc. VERB + WAIST …   Collocations dictionary

  • waist */*/ — UK [weɪst] / US noun [countable] Word forms waist : singular waist plural waists a) the middle part of the human body that is usually narrower than the parts above and below Jim put his arm round Carmen s waist. Marie wore a wide black leather… …   English dictionary

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