Is a 40 Inch Waist Too Big?

What is a 40 Inch Waist?

A waist measurement is the circumference around your abdomen. It is used to buy clothing and assess risk for health problems like heart disease and diabetes. However, measuring your waist correctly is critical to know if it is really 40 inches around.

How to Measure Your Waist

To measure your waist size accurately, use a flexible tape measure. Wrap it around your waist above the hip bone, parallel to the floor. Pull it snug but not tight, and take the reading at the end of a normal exhale without sucking in your stomach. The point where the tape intersects is your waist size.

Is a 40 Inch Waist Big?

Generally speaking, a 40-inch waist is fairly common. But whether it’s big or small really depends on your gender and to whom you’re comparing yourself. So, let’s look at some waist size statistics for women and men.

40 Inch Waist for Women

The average waist size for American women is 35.6 inches. This means that having a 40-inch waist is significantly larger than the average and would place you in the 75th percentile among the general population.

However, it’s important to keep in mind that 3 out of 4 adult women in the US are overweight or obese. Therefore, it may not be appropriate to compare yourself to the general population.

A survey of women in the US Army, who are generally more physically fit, indicates that their average waist size is 28.2 inches, with the largest waist measurement being 39 inches. This indicates that a 40-inch waist falls beyond the normal range for fit women.

40 Inch Waist FAQ

Now you know how big a 40-inch waist is for men and women. But you might have more questions about this topic. So here are some quick answers to common queries.

What size is a 40 inch waist?

For women, a waist circumference of 40 inches usually corresponds to a dress size of 22-24 in the US, or an international size XXL for other types of women’s clothing. On the other hand, men with a 40-inch waist would typically fit into clothing sizes ranging from XL to XXL.

What pants size is a 40 inch waist?

A waist size of 40 inches generally corresponds to a pant size of 38-40 for women and 39-40 for men. So your jeans size doesn’t always reflect your actual waist size.

One reason for this is how you wear your pants. For example, women’s pants tend to sit higher on the waist, close to the measurement site. In contrast, men wear their pants lower on their hips, where their waists might be smaller.

In addition, your true waist size may not reflect your pant size due to your body proportions. For instance, you may need to size up if you have thicker thighs or a bigger butt.

Is a 40 inch waist good for a woman?

If you are a woman, having a waist size of 40 inches is considered to be on the larger side and may not be a good target if you are aiming to improve your overall health and wellness.

However, if your current waist size is much larger than 40 inches, then it could be a reasonable short-term goal. It’s important to note that whether a 40-inch waist size is suitable for you depends on your current waist size.

Moreover, your ideal waist size varies depending on your body type and height. For instance, a 40-inch waist is more problematic for a shorter woman than for a taller one.

Is a 40 inch waist good for a man?

Having a waist size of 40 inches is about average for the typical American man. But that may not be a good target for overall health, especially if you aim to be in shape compared to relatively fit individuals.

To be considered fit, a man should aim for a 33-inch waist or smaller. However, whether a 40-inch waist size is appropriate for you depends on your overall body type and size.