What is the average measurement of a woman's waist?

In 2012, the average waist measurement for adult American women was 37.5 inches, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Women's average weight was just over 166 pounds, while their average height was almost 5 feet, 4 inches.

Waist circumference is one predictor of general health. Women who carry more fat around their waist than their hips are more likely to develop heart disease or type 2 diabetes, the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute states. If a woman's waist measurement is more than 35 inches, the risk increases. In addition, if a woman's waist is over 35 inches and her body mass index, an estimate of body fat, is high, she is more likely to develop obesity-associated diseases.