Waist circumference and health risks

• In the Belgian population aged three and older, 44% have a waist circumference that is considered healthy (low risk), while 22% are at high risk and 35% are at very high risk for their health.
• In children and adolescents, the proportion of those with a healthy waist circumference (low risk) is 73% and 72% respectively. The proportion then decreases during adulthood to reach 17% in older adults. 
• In adulthood, the proportion of the population with a waist circumference putting them at very high risk is higher than that of the population at high risk.
• Almost half of middle-aged adults (45%) and older adults (62%) are at a very high risk for their health.
• Women are more likely to be at very high risk compared to men, particularly among younger adults (18 to 39 years) (27% vs. 19%) and older adults (65 years and above) (64% vs. 59%).

• Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
• In adult males, a waist circumference below 94 cm is considered a ‘low risk’, of 94–102 cm is a ‘high risk’ and of more than 102 cm is a ‘very high risk’.
• In adult females, a waist circumference below 80 cm is considered a ‘low risk’, of 80–88 cm is a ‘high risk’ and of more than 88 cm is a ‘very high risk’.
• In children and adolescents age and sex-specific cut-off values are used (Frederiks et al., 2005) for evaluating the health risk.
• Older adults (65 years and above) do not include institutionalised (including those in care homes) or hospitalised individuals, or those who could not be interviewed without assistance (e.g., individuals with dementia).

• Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
• In adult males, a waist circumference of 94–102 cm is considered a ‘high risk’ and of more than 102 cm is a ‘very high risk’.
• In adult females, a waist circumference of 80–88 cm is considered a ‘high risk’ and of more than 88 cm is a ‘very high risk’.
• In children and adolescents age and sex-specific cut-off values are used (Frederiks et al., 2005) for evaluating the health risk.
• Older adults (65 years and above) do not include institutionalised (including those in care homes) or hospitalised individuals, or those who could not be interviewed without assistance (e.g., individuals with dementia).

• In adulthood, the proportion of the population at high risk (including very high) increases.
• Among younger adults (18 to 39 years), women are more likely to be at high risk (including very high) compared to men.
• Among children, adolescents, middle-aged and older adults there are no differences by sex.

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• Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex and socioeconomic status.
• In adult males, a waist circumference of more than 102 cm is a ‘very high risk’.
• In adult females, a waist circumference of more than 88 cm is a ‘very high risk’.
• In children and adolescents, age and sex-specific cut-off values are used (Frederiks et al., 2005) for evaluating the health risk.
• Older adults (65 years and above) do not include institutionalised (including those in care homes) or hospitalised individuals, or those who could not be interviewed without assistance (e.g., individuals with dementia).

• In adulthood, the proportion of the population at very high risk increases with age.
• Among younger adults (18 to 39 years) and older adults (65 years and above), women are more likely to be at very high risk compared to men.
• Among children, adolescents and older adults (65 years and above), there are no differences by sex.

• In adult males, a waist circumference below 94 cm is considered a ‘low risk’, of 94–102 cm a ‘high risk’ and of more than 102 cm a ‘very high risk’.
• In adult females, a waist circumference below 80 cm is considered a ‘low risk’, of 80–88 cm a ‘high risk’, and of more than 88 cm a ‘very high risk’.
• In children and adolescents age and sex-specific cut-off values are used (Frederiks et al., 2005) for evaluating the health risk.
• Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
• The educational level is calculated at the household level by considering the highest diploma obtained by: (i) the respondents or their partner for adults (aged 18 years and above), or (ii) the father and mother (or carer, if applicable) for children and adolescents (aged 3 to 17 years). However, for simplicity, we refer to the education level of individuals rather than the education level of their households. 

• 37% of individuals in the low-educated group have a healthy waist circumference (low risk), as compared to 43% and 56% for those in the mid, and high-educated groups, respectively.
• Those in the low-educated group are two times more likely to be at a very high risk (42%) as compared to those in the high-educated group (21%).

• Adjusted = results weighted for season, age, sex and socioeconomic status, and adjusted according to age and sex based on linear regression model (using the Belgian population of 2022-2023 as reference).
• In adult males, a waist circumference of 94–102 cm is considered a ‘high risk’ and of more than 102 cm is a ‘very high risk’.
• In adult females, a waist circumference of 80–88 cm is considered a ‘high risk’ and of more than 88 cm is a ‘very high risk’.
• In adolescents, age- and sex-specific cut-off values are used (Frederiks et al., 2005) for evaluating the health risk.

• There are no changes in the proportion of the Belgian population aged 15 to 64 years with a high (including very high) health risk due to a large waist circumference between 2014-2015 and 2022-2023, except in Brussels where it increased from 47% to 62%.
• In 2022-2023, within the Belgian population aged 15 to 64 years old, the proportion of individuals with a high (including very high) health risk is higher in Brussels (62%)  than in Flanders (55%).

• Adjusted = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status, and adjusted according to age and sex based on linear regression model (using the Belgian population of 2022-2023 as reference).
• In adult males, a waist circumference of more than 102 cm is considered a ‘very high risk’.
• In adult females, a waist circumference of more than 88 cm is considered a ‘very high risk’.
• In adolescents, age and sex-specific cut-off values are used (Frederiks et al., 2005) for evaluating the health risk.

• Overall, the proportion of the population aged 15 to 64 years with a very high health risk due to a large waist circumference increased from 2004 to 2014-2015 in all regions (except in Brussels).
• From 2014-2015 to 2022-2023 the proportion did not change in Wallonia, but decreased in Flanders, while it increased in Brussels.
• In 2022-2023 in the population aged 15 to 64 years old, Wallonia (39%) and Brussels (40%) had a higher proportion of individuals with a very high health risk than Flanders (30%).

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• Adjusted = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status, and adjusted according to age and sex based on linear regression model (using the Belgian population of 2022-2023 as reference).
• In adult males, a waist circumference of 94–102 cm is considered a ‘high risk’ and of more than 102 cm is a ‘very high risk’.
• In adult females, a waist circumference of 80–88 cm is considered a ‘high risk’ and of more than 88 cm is a ‘very high risk’.
• In children and adolescents, age and sex-specific cut-off values are used (Frederiks et al., 2005) for evaluating the health risk.

• Overall, the proportion of the population with a high (including very high) health risk due to a large waist circumference did not change between 2004, 2014-2015 and 2022-2023 in all age groups.
• There was a decrease in the proportion of adolescents with a high (including very high) risk due to a large waist circumference from 2004 (28%) to 2014-2015 (23%).

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• Adjusted = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status, and adjusted according to age and sex based on linear regression model (using the Belgian population of 2022-2023 as reference).
• In adult males, a waist circumference of more than 102 cm is considered a ‘very high risk’.
• In adult females, a waist circumference of more than 88 cm is considered a ‘very high risk’.
• In children and adolescents, age and sex-specific cut-off values are used (Frederiks et al., 2005) for evaluating the health risk.

• Overall, the proportion of the population with a very high health risk due to a large waist circumference did not change between 2004, 2014-2015 and 2022-2023 in all age groups.
• Except for middle-aged adults (40 to 64 years), there was an increase in the proportion of individuals with a very high health risk due to a large waist circumference between 2004 (40%) and 2014-2015 (48%).

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