The average waist size for American women is 35.6 inches. That means a 30 inch waist would put you in the 15th percentile among most females, which is quite a bit smaller than average. However, it's important to remember that 3 out of 4 adult women in the US are overweight or obese.
For men, a waist circumference below 94cm (37in) is 'low risk', 94–102cm (37-40in) is 'high risk' and more than 102cm (40in) is 'very high'. For women, below 80cm (31.5in) is low risk, 80–88cm (31.5-34.6in) is high risk and more than 88cm (34.6in) is very high.
For example, a waist that measures 30” will convert to sizes 29-31 in women's jeans and a size 28 in men's jeans.
As part of a large 2012 study, researchers looked at data from more than 340,000 people from eight European countries. They found that overweight people with large waists — more than 34.5 inches for women or 40 inches for men — were at a similar risk of developing diabetes as people who were clinically obese.
If you ask yourself what size is a 30-inch waist in girl's/women's jeans, then use this chart to find out that it corresponds to a US Size 12 or EU 40.
30 Inch Waist for Women
The average waist size for American women is 35.6 inches. That means a 30 inch waist would put you in the 15th percentile among most females, which is quite a bit smaller than average. However, it's important to remember that 3 out of 4 adult women in the US are overweight or obese.
If you ask yourself, what size is a 30 inch waist in women's jeans, then use this chart to find out that it corresponds to a US Size 12 or EU 40.
To do it, breath normally and wrap the tape around the part of your stomach that's roughly two inches above your hips. The resulting number is your waist circumference. In general if you're a woman, you want a measurement that's less than 34.5 inches. If you're a man, a number below 40 inches is ideal.
If your BMI is 18.5 to <25, it falls within the healthy weight range. If your BMI is 25.0 to <30, it falls within the overweight range. If your BMI is 30.0 or higher, it falls within the obesity range.
To have your best chance at maintaining good health, you should aim for: Men should have a waist circumference of 40 inches or less. Women should have a waist circumference of 35 inches or less.
Waist Size: XS or extra small means 28–30 inches (71–76 cm), S or Small means 30–32 inches (76–81 cm), M or Medium means 32–34 inches (81–86 cm), and L or Large means 34–36 inches (86–91 cm).
The average waist size of a woman in the United States is 38.7 inches , according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That measurement is an increase from a decade before. Then, the average waist size was 37.4 inches .
Thus a man who is 6ft or 72 inches tall (183 cm), should keep his waist under 36 inches (91 cm), and a woman who is 5ft 4 in or 64 inches tall (163 cm), should keep her waist measurement under 32 inches (81 cm).
We tend to lose muscle mass, so our abdominal muscles aren't as tight as they once were, and the loss of elastin and collagen in our skin allows gravity to have its way so skin starts to sag. Both can cause the waistline to expand.
The recommended ranges for healthy men are between 10-20% body fat, and for women, the ranges are 18-28%. If your body fat exceeds these ranges, but you have a normal weight when you stand on the scale, you may be skinny fat.
This is what might politely be called the chubby category, with body mass indexes (a measure of weight for height) of 25 to 30. A woman, for instance, who is 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighs between 146 and 175 pounds.
People that live in regions such as the Midwest and the South tend to desire more average sizes. In these regions, a woman wearing a size 8 to 10 is considered thin and appealing. Women who are in the 00 to 4 range might be seen as underweight.
The smallest waist of a person with normal stature was 33 cm (13 in) and was recorded on Ethel Granger (UK) (1905–82). She reduced from a natural 56 cm (22 in) to 33 cm (13 in) over the period 1929–39.
The guideline says a healthy waist to height ratio is 0.4 to 0.49, indicating no increased health risks. A ratio of 0.5 to 0.59 puts people at increased risk of health issues, while 0.6 or more puts them at the highest risk of health problems.
Generally speaking, a 28-inch waist is on the small side and indicates low abdominal fat, a marker of good health. However, having a slim waist doesn't automatically make you healthy. And you must also consider other diet and lifestyle factors.
(In case you're not familiar with these sizes... a size 27 is generally a size 4, and a size 30 is generally a size 10.
US 10 - either UK 12 (Waist 29”/30" and Bust 37”/38") or UK 14 (Waist 31”/32" and Bust 39”/40") US 12 - approximately UK 14 (Waist 31”/32" and Bust 39”/40") US 14 - approximately UK 16 (Waist 33"/34" and Bust 41"/42") US 16 - approximately UK 18 (Waist 35”/36" and Bust 43”/44")