Are you wondering how to measure hip size in women? Most ladies carefully monitor their figure, so they regularly measure their parameters. But how correctly do they do it? In some cases (tailoring, buying things online), a difference of even a few millimeters plays a big role. Therefore, the ability to correctly measure your figure will not be superfluous.
How to measure hip size in women? First of all, you need to purchase a measuring tape. You can buy this at a sewing store or hardware store. Next, follow the detailed instructions:
- Stand in front of the mirror. It should be quite large so that you can see yourself in full height. Using a mirror, it will be easy to control how the measuring tape lies, because it can twist and “go to the side.”
- In order for the measurements to be correct, they must be taken undressed. It is not necessary to completely undress. You can leave thin underwear on your body. Jeans, tight skirts and tights will distort the indicators. This is especially important if you plan to buy clothes online or have custom-made clothes.
- Place your feet together. A wide stance will not allow you to get an accurate result. Straighten your back. Stand sideways to the mirror.
- The concept of “hip volume” includes the volume of not only the hips, but also the buttocks.
- Mark the widest part of the pelvis.
- Place the measuring tape on your hips, moving it to the widest part of your hips. Press the ends of the tape tightly as you wrap it around your hips.
- Connect the 2 ends of the measuring tape and loosen it slightly. Look at what mark the second end of the measuring tape is located. This will be the volume of your hips.
If you don't have time to go to the store to buy a measuring tape, you can use paper tape or string. They are applied to the hips in the same way as a tape measure. After measuring, place a string or paper tape on the ruler and count the number of centimeters. This is not the most reliable way measuring the parameters of a figure, since you are unlikely to achieve accuracy down to a millimeter, but sometimes this the best way out from the situation. You should not use a tape measure to take measurements. It is quite dense and inflexible, so you will only get distorted results with it.
Have you taken measurements for tailoring? Then add a couple more centimeters to the result obtained, since walking in clothes that are too tight will be uncomfortable.
What to do if you are not satisfied with your hip size?
If you took measurements, but the result did not please you at all, it makes sense to adjust the parameters. Of course, the most reliable way is to exercise and review your diet. But there are cases when the hips are much wider than the waist or, on the contrary, have the same parameters. These are the proportions that nature has endowed, and they can only be corrected with the help of clothing.
What to wear for women with wide hips?
- The task of women with curvy hips– this is to visually increase the top. Blouses and shirts with flounces, ruffles, yokes, and shoulder pads are suitable for this. You can decorate the top with a neck scarf, a voluminous necklace, or a shawl.
- The top and bottom should be as contrasting as possible. You can play up the ensemble using the color or texture of the fabric.
- To make the hips appear visually smaller, long thin belts hanging down, a silhouette widened at the bottom, and a straight, loose cut of skirts and trousers are suitable.
- Most best style skirts for ladies with wide hips are a-line. The optimal length is to the knee, but you can afford longer short version. Especially if you have beautiful long legs.
- Vertical folds and dark, rich shades will help correct your figure.
- Choose shoes with medium or low heels.
- Avoid low-cut trousers, pleated skirts, and clothes with voluminous patch pockets.
- A great way to “visually lose weight” is floor-length trousers combined with high heels.
What should women with narrow hips wear?
- Skirts should be as full as possible so that they visually add volume to the hips. A good solution would be a tulip skirt or an extended skirt downwards. A pleated skirt, a circle skirt, or a model with flounces and ruffles also look beautiful. High-waisted models will help emphasize the waistline. The optimal length is just above the knee.
- If you have narrow hips, don't hide them in baggy pants. This can make the problem even worse. Wide trousers have the right to be in your wardrobe; they should fit perfectly.
90-60-90 are cherished numbers for many women. In order to get even a little closer to the ideal, they are ready to endure hunger, torture their body with physical activity, various procedures and operations.
They regularly measure their weight and measurements. But not everyone does it correctly. Of the three parameters, the most important for women is volume, which especially suffers from measurement errors. Learning to get the correct numbers is not difficult at all. In this case, you can do it without outside help.
What do you need?
To correctly measure the volume of your hips, you will need a measuring tape or a tailor's tape measure (you can buy them at any sewing store), two mirrors - large and small, a notepad and a pen. It is not recommended to use a regular construction tape measure or a school ruler. You will never get true results with their help. And now, when everything is at hand, you can get down to business.
Before measuring your hips, you need to undress down to your underwear. Jeans, a skirt or clothes that are too full can add extra centimeters due to the thickness of the fabric. And if a woman wears shapewear or tights, they will also have to be removed. It is best to take measurements in thin underwear. The state should be calm, relaxed, breathing should be even. There is no need to specifically tighten or protrude your stomach or strain your buttocks. When measuring, you must stand straight and try not to slouch.
Looking for and measuring the hip line
To find out exactly where the hip line is, you need to determine the waist line. A thin round rubber band is best suited for this purpose. It needs to be tied at the waist and walked around a little so that it “sits in place,” that is, moves to the narrowest place. This will be the waist line. Now go down from the elastic band 17-19 centimeters. This value is called “hip height”. It is calculated more accurately when constructing the pattern, and now it is not very important.
Next, you should grab your hips with a measuring tape so that it goes along the most convex places. Using a small mirror, standing with your back to the reflection in a large mirror, make sure that the tape passes smoothly across the buttocks, does not twist and is parallel to the floor line. At the same time, it should not crash into the body too much, but also not hang loosely around it. The edges of the tape should meet at the front. This is where we look at the numbers. It must be remembered that the hips of men and women differ in volume, and the widest places can be both above and below the hip joint.
This should be taken into account when measuring girth. A large mirror will help you check that the tape lies on your hips correctly. If this measurement is needed for sewing or choosing spacious clothes, then another 2-2.5 cm should be added to the result obtained and rounded to the nearest whole number. Sometimes the widest part may be under the hips. And to make the pattern most accurate, you need to take two measurements at once: the girth of the widest part of the buttocks and the girth of the upper thighs. At the same time, take the larger result of the two obtained when choosing clothes or drawing a drawing.
Measuring the thigh using a centimeter
Sometimes it is necessary to measure one leg. Before measuring the thigh volume, you need to place your leg on a chair and bend your knee at an angle of 90 degrees. Then grab it five centimeters from the groin. Make sure that the muscles are not tense, the tape fits your leg tightly and does not put pressure. Knowing how to measure hip volume can help you more accurately draw a drawing of trousers, especially tight-fitting models or those made from elastic stretch fabric.
Body volumes - chest, waist and hips - need to be known not only for accurate construction of patterns. After all, not every woman knows how to sew. These numbers are much more important for purchasing clothes, especially online. After all, it is unlikely that you will be able to return items purchased this way.
A little conclusion
Those women who are interested in how to measure thigh volume in order to monitor the effectiveness of diets and physical activity in losing weight are recommended to do this no more than once a week. And all because the picture may hardly change during the day. And only after a longer period of time, for example a week, will any changes be noticeable.
The most pressing question of how to measure thigh volume arises in the spring, when the fitting of the summer assortment begins women's wardrobe, especially swimsuits. This is when the extra pounds gained on warm winter evenings become noticeable. All the ladies planning a summer vacation at the sea begin to feverishly look for weight loss products, try different diets, and sign up for a gym.
At the same time, they regularly measure their lush volumes and look at the scales with hope. But the main thing is not to overdo it. Even if the results are insignificant, do not despair. You can always find a way out. And in in this case It is enough to choose the right swimsuit and summer clothes for relaxation.
It’s also better to take them off, as they have a tightening effect. However, if, for example, you plan to wear a skirt exclusively nylon tights, it makes sense to take measurements in them. Measurements are taken using a measuring tape at the most protruding points of the buttocks. Don't repeat the mistakes of those who measure hip circumference along the line or protruding bones.
If you have a protruding belly, take measurements based on the protrusion. To do this, use a flexible plate applied to the stomach and down to the hips. The protrusion of the belly is especially important to consider if you are going to buy or one-piece.
For tailoring purposes, the measurement result is denoted by the abbreviation OB, for example, OB 98, or expressed in half size and designated PoB (half hip circumference). Thus, the same measurement result can be expressed as OB98 and POB49.
If you plan to buy foreign-made clothing, it is possible that you will have to convert centimeters to another length measure: measurements for clothing from American manufacturers are most often expressed in inches. 2.54cm fits in 1 inch. Also use the following table for converting centimeters to inches:
1 mm = 0.0397 inch
1 cm = 0.397 inch
1 m = 39.37 inches
In writing, inches are indicated by an apostrophe: 0.0397’; 39.37’ etc.
In the case when it is necessary to measure the circumference of the hips, and there is no measuring tape at hand, take the measurement with any tape or rope. To do this, grab your hips with a tape (rope) at the most protruding points of the buttocks and note on the tape (rope) the place that corresponds to the measurement. You can make a stitch in this place with colored thread or tie a knot. The tape (rope) can then be applied to a wooden meter or tape measure and thus obtain the measurement in numerical terms.
Sources:
- hip girth
Circle is a flat geometric figure, formed by a closed curve, all points of which are at equal distances from the center of the circle. There are 2 approaches to calculating its length.
You will need
- You need to know the diameter of the circle, the radius of the circle, as well as the value of the constant π.
Instructions
Video on the topic
Tip 3: How to take measurements correctly and find out your clothing size
While walking around shops and boutiques, the question often arises of how to find out your clothing size. The problem is complicated by the fact that there are several types size chart. This significantly complicates the process of choosing clothes.
You will need
- - assistant;
- - tape measure;
- - ruler or straight stick.
Instructions
To take measurements correctly, you must wear underwear. As a last resort, you can take measurements in a light T-shirt and shorts. In order for the measurements to be accurate, you need to stand straight and straighten your shoulders. Hands should be down.
To measure the circumference of the chest, you need to run a measuring tape along the most protruding parts of the chest, along the armpits, and on the back - just above the level of the armpit.
The easiest way to measure your waist is to find your natural waistline and measure it.
To determine the circumference of the hips, the tape must be held strictly horizontally. It should go along the most protruding parts. In front, the measuring tape should extend to the level of the abdomen. To be precise, just take any straight stick or ruler. The main thing is that its length is greater than the length from the stomach to the beginning of the thigh. Now we lower it vertically at the level of the stomach and below. At this time, we take measurements, taking into account the distance to the stick.
Those who play sports and watch their figure should periodically measure their hip circumference. Or for those who want to sew clothes or order them from a studio or online store. Pregnant women also need such measurements. Finding out your hip circumference is easy if you follow a few rules. The main one is to take measurements in underwear or in thin, tight-fitting clothes, so as not to “add” extra centimeters to yourself.
How to measure?Take a fabric or rubberized measuring tape. The second option is better because the fabric tape stretches easily and you will get errors in measurements.
In foreign publications with pattern diagrams, you may see sizes in inches rather than centimeters. You will see the same thing when ordering clothes from a foreign online store. Buy a measuring tape with centimeters on one side and inches on the other. Or measure your hip circumference first in centimeters, and then convert the resulting measurement to inches (1 cm equals 0.394 inches).
If you don't have a measuring tape on hand, you can do without it. You will need non-elastic string or regular tape. Tie a knot at the end, measure your hips and tie a knot again at the end mark. You can mark the measurement with chalk, felt-tip pen, or pencil. Then use a ruler to measure the distance between these marks.
How to take measurements?
Take off your shoes or wear shoes that you feel comfortable standing in. It is advisable to stand in front of a large mirror to monitor the position of the tape. It is important that the measuring tape passes:
- at a distance of 16 – 22 cm from the waist (depending on height);
- parallel to the floor, without distortions;
- along the most protruding places of the buttocks and thighs, also taking into account the bulge of the abdomen (for pregnant women - under the abdomen).
It is necessary to maintain the correct body position, in otherwise you will get an unreliable result.
- Stand straight, with a straight back, shoulders back, without tension.
- If you stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, you will get a larger-than-real hip circumference.
What else needs to be considered
You already know that when measuring your hip circumference, you need to get rid of excess clothing. It is advisable to also remove elastic underwear and modeling (shaping) tights. But if you intend to wear a skirt or dress only with these tights, don't take them off.
There is also such a measurement, often used in the studio - half-hip circumference (indicated by HOB). By the way, it is believed that the half-girth of the hips is the size of the lower part of your clothing, be it a skirt or trousers. For example, if OB = 92, then POB = 46, which corresponds to size 46, or, in foreign classification, size S.
As you can see, it is not difficult to find out your hip circumference. Now you are aware of the main features of taking measurements and can act.
Waist to hip ratio(English abbreviation WHR, which can be translated as THR - waist-hip ratio) is the ratio of the circumference at the waist to the circumference at the hips.
Such a generally accepted abbreviation as TBS actually no, but it will be used in this article for easier reading.
This indicator is very popular in the West, where a lot of research has been conducted on its effect on attractiveness, as well as as an indicator of health.
There are rules developed by different organizations to make these measurements correctly. While everything is simple with hips, when measuring the waist, different organizations use slightly different measurement standards.
Measuring the hips and waist: for a thin person (left), the waist should be measured correctly at the narrowest point, while for a fuller person (right) it should be measured approximately 2 cm above the navel. The hips are measured at their widest part, regardless of the figure (approximately in the middle).
Waist and hip measurement rules used by world-famous organizations
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) protocol, waist circumference should be measured midway between the lower edge of the lower rib and the top of the iliac crest (the upper pelvic bone, seen from the side). A measuring tape is used for this (colloquially “centimeter”). When tightened, it should create a pressure equivalent to 100 grams. Hip circumference should be measured around the widest part of the buttocks, using the same tape, parallel to the floor.
The US National Institutes of Health and the National Health and Nutrition Examination Program use results obtained by measuring at the top of the iliac crest—essentially where we typically have the waistband of standard pants.
Often, non-professionals measure the waist at the navel level, but studies have shown that this method can often result in an understatement of its actual circumference.
When measuring both circumferences, the person should have their feet side by side, arms apart, body weight evenly distributed, and no excess clothing. Breathing should be normal, calm, and measurements should be taken at the end of exhalation. Each measurement is repeated twice, and if there is a centimeter difference between them, then the average results are taken.
The easiest way to measure your waist and hips correctly
In practice, in order not to delve into all these subtleties, the waist with slim figure It is most correct to measure simply in the area of its smallest circumference, as a rule, slightly above the navel. In the case where the waist is convex rather than concave, for example, as happens during pregnancy or if you have excess weight, then the location of the smallest circle is often more difficult to determine. In such cases, to determine the degree of obesity, a measurement is taken a couple of centimeters above the navel. Hip circumference can be measured simply visually at the widest part of the buttocks.
Do not forget that these are the rules for taking measurements to determine the degree of obesity and other health indicators, and not for sewing or selecting clothes.
Waist to hip ratio in a healthy person
Waist-to-hip ratio is used as an indicator and measure of a person's health. Using this coefficient, you can see the degree of risk of developing serious diseases. Research shows that people with an apple body shape (waist wider than the hips) face greater health risks than those with a pear body shape, whose hips are wider than the waist.
This ratio is also used to determine obesity, which in turn serves as an indicator of other more serious diseases.
WHO states that abdominal obesity occurs when the waist-to-hip ratio is greater than 0.90 for men and 0.85 for women, or greater than 30.0. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), women who have a THR greater than 0.8 and men who have it greater than 1.0 are at increased health risk.
HBS is a better predictor of life expectancy in older people than waist circumference or BMI (body mass index). But if obesity is defined by this indicator, instead of BMI, then the number of people in the world who are at increased risk of a heart attack will decrease by three times. Waist-to-hip ratio is considered to more accurately indicate the percentage of body fat relative to body weight than waist circumference or BMI. Of these three values, only TBS takes into account differences in body structure (muscle mass, bone width, fat). Thus, it is possible for two women to have completely different weights but the same waist-to-hip ratio, or to have the same BMI but completely different waist-to-hip ratios.
Even in ancient civilizations around the world ideal women were most often presented with TBS in the range of 0.6-0.7. Simply put, a woman who had much wider hips than her waist was considered more beautiful. Most likely, this is explained by the subconscious understanding of men that a woman with wide hips is more predisposed to having children. But more about this later in the article.
According to some TBS studies best indicator chances of developing cardiovascular disease than waist circumference and body mass index. But others show that waist circumference is a more accurate indicator of cardiovascular risk factors, body fat distribution and hypertension in patients diabetes mellitus 2 types. Therefore, it is impossible to say for sure which of these indicators can tell more about health.
Waist and hip volume as an indicator of reproduction
A THR of 0.7 for women and 0.9 for men has been shown to be closely associated with overall health and the ability to give birth or conceive a child. Women with a TPS of around 0.7 have optimal estrogen levels and are less susceptible to underlying diseases such as diabetes. of cardio-vascular system and ovarian cancer. Women with a high waist-to-hip ratio (0.80 or higher) have a significantly lower chance of becoming pregnant than those with a WHR of 0.70-0.79, regardless of their BMI. Men with a TPS of around 0.9 similarly have a better chance of conceiving and are also less likely to get prostate and testicular cancer.
Research shows that the ratio of waist to hip length is an accurate indicator of reproductive health, in terms of the body's production of the necessary hormones for this. Among girls with the same weight, with lower TBS rates, puberty occurs earlier. This is manifested in the growth of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), as well as the sex steroid hormone - estradiol.
A Dutch prospective (with a selected group of people) study of artificial insemination confirmed an increase in the chances of getting pregnant with low TBS back in 1993. It showed that with an increase of 0.1 unit of hip joint, it reduces the likelihood of conception in a cycle by 30%. This is adjusted for age, weight, reasons for artificial insemination, length and regularity of cycles, and smoking.
The influence of mother's waist and hip size on child's cognitive abilities
American scientists even studied the relationship between the cognitive abilities (roughly speaking, thinking) of young children and the waist-to-hip ratio of their mothers (WHR). As a result of the tests, it was found that children whose mothers had wider hips and smaller hip joints were more mentally developed. This is explained by the fact that the fetus received additional long-chain polyunsaturated acids from the fat on the mother's thighs. In addition, statistical data also indicate that children of girls with low TBS who became mothers in adolescence, were more protected from cognitive impairment associated with childbirth in too early at a young age.
What determines the size of the waist and hips
Twin studies have shown that 22-61% of waist-to-hip ratios can be explained by genetic factors. Among other factors, nutrition and lifestyle occupy the first places.
Ideal waist to hip ratio
Some researchers have found that waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) is an important measure feminine attractiveness. Women with a TBI of 0.7 tend to be rated as more attractive by men from Indo-European cultures. Tastes can vary, according to some studies, from 0.6 (in China, South America, and parts of Africa) to 0.8 (in Cameroon and the Hazda tribe of Tanzania), with diverging preferences depending on ethnicity.
It seems that men pay more attention to a woman's waist size than her hip size. The Journal of Biological Psychology had this to say about this:
« The size of your hips and waist indicates the amount of extra fat that can be used as an energy source. The waist conveys information such as current reproductive status or health conditions... in Western countries where there are no seasonal food shortages, the waist, conveying information about fertility and health status, will be more important than hip size in assessing female attractiveness«.
Thus, the size of the hip joint, which indicates the onset of puberty, sexuality, reproduction, hormonal disorders and distinguishes a man from a woman - differs in different populations.
The influence of waist-to-hip ratio on attractiveness (research results)
The concept and meaning of TBS as an indicator of attractiveness was first described in 1993 by an American psychologist named Devendra Singh. He argued that this ratio is more consistent than the bust-waist ratio (BWR).
In a series of studies conducted by Singh (1993), participating men used a woman's HB and body fat distribution to determine her attractiveness. The men were shown a series of 12 drawings of women with different HB scores and the distribution of fat in their body. Women in the drawings with normal fat distribution and moderate TBS were associated with the most positive traits (i.e., sexy, smart, and healthy). When considering the depicted women with low TBS (small difference between the waist and hips), other than youth, men did not associate them with anything positive.
In this study, Singh suggested that men and women may have developed innate mechanisms that detect and use waist-to-hip ratio to assess how healthy a person is. Having a certain waist-to-hip ratio increases the chances of getting healthy offspring with hereditary genetic protection from various diseases.
Other studies have found that TJ is a sign of attractiveness that goes beyond just fat and fertility. For example, a study was conducted using eye tracking techniques on men while they digitally manipulated the same woman. In addition to eye tracking, subjects were also asked to rate the image based on attractiveness. Although men fixed their eyes during the study mainly on female breast, but regardless of her size, they called the most attractive a woman with a TBC of 0.7.
In addition, a study was conducted by Joson and Tazinari in 2005. The reaction to an animated human walking was considered. It turns out that men not only use TBS to evaluate attractiveness, but also as a means to determine sexual differences. At the same time, a person with a higher waist-to-hip ratio is perceived as more masculine. And with a lower value, when the hips are not so noticeably wider than the waist, the object seems more feminine and gentle. The authors of this study suggest that this provides an additional explanation for why men perceive lower TBI as more attractive. It was also concluded that for this reason, men who have a smaller hip joint feel less confident and independent than men with a higher and more courageous hip joint.
To increase attractiveness, some women artificially change their waist-to-hip ratio. These methods include using a corset to reduce the size of the waist and visually increase the apparent size of the hips and buttocks. During various such attempts during the 20th century, manufacturers used sizing calculations called hipspring, which translated means “spring hips” or “spring hips,” to make corsets. In this case, the height of the part of the corset for tightening the waist was calculated by subtracting the waist size from the hip size. However, this method of calculating sizes fell out of use because it often gave a poor indicator of attractiveness. For example, a size of 10 inches (250 mm height of the constricting part of the corset) will look very attractive on adult woman with average parameters, but a child or a small woman with a corset of this size will look like a malnourished person.
In the case of TBS, the brain evaluates the level of attractiveness based on the ability to reproduce offspring (reproductivity), and on the presence of fat in the body. This was confirmed by one interesting American study. Simulated on a computer women's bodies With real growth and body weight (BMI), but irregular shape body (TBS), and then vice versa. Twelve trial participants (6 men and 6 women) were observed using MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) as these different female forms. Based on the reaction of brain areas, it turned out that the level of attractiveness depends directly on BMI, and not on the waist-hip index (WHI). It was the ratio of weight and height that was responsible for the reactions in the brains of people who assessed the simulated female figures. This study also found that judgment of ideal body shape may differ among people with eating disorders.
There was also one study conducted in 1995 regarding waist-to-hip ratio. It was attended by 137 Englishmen aged from 16 to 67 years, among them 98 women. As a result, we got a very banal result, which could have been said without research. It turned out that the attractiveness of a woman's breasts depends on the amount of fat in her body and her waist-to-hip ratio. Although most previous studies have shown that young women evaluate body ideality only on the basis of thinness, big breasts at the same time, it only slightly increased their femininity and signs of health. Even in this study, a figure with a high TBS (without much difference in the volume of the waist and hips) and big breasts was rated as least attractive and healthy by all participants.
The waist-to-hip ratio is an indicator of a person's gender expression. For example, women with a high indicator, and men with a low one, are usually rated less attractive by the opposite sex.
The effect of nutrition on fat deposition in the waist and hips
There have been a number of studies examining the effect of diet on changes in waist circumference, taking into account body mass index. Below are the main results.
A diet of whole grain barley flakes reduces LDL (low-density lipoprotein) levels and waist size in overweight and obese adults. This diet gave best effect in studies than a low-fiber diet. There was no difference in total weight loss between the groups on these two diets.
There was a more than 3-fold reduction in excess fat around the waist in people over a year who switched to a diet that included a large number of fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy products and whole grains. What else was accompanied by a decrease in the amount of food in the diet? bakery products, processed meats, fast food (fast food) and carbonated sweet drinks.
A 2011 study showed that a diet high in fruits and dairy products, and low in white bread, meat, margarine and soft drinks, may help prevent abdominal fat accumulation.
Waist-Hip Ratio Calculator
In principle, the formula for calculating this ratio is very simple. All you need to do is divide the circumference of your waist by the circumference of your hips. As a result, we get the coefficient referred to in this article as TBS. But for convenience, below is a calculator to make this calculation.
