Our Mission
At measure.health, our mission is to empower individuals to take control of their health through the monitoring of key health metrics which are different for each individual. Knowledge is power, and by providing easy-to-use tools and evidence-based insights, we can help people make informed decisions about their health and well-being.
Why Track More Than Just Weight?
While tracking weight is common, it is even easier to measure and track your waistline which may be more useful for those with the intention of weight gain or loss. Waistline measuresments can also give a broader picture of ones health and used in conjunction with weight and height, ones Body Mass Index (BMI) and Waist-to-Height Ratio (WtHR) can be calculated to provide another picture of ones health. Unlike weight alone, these measurements help assess body composition and fat distribution.
Health Issues Related to Inadequate BMI and WtHR
- Cardiovascular disease
- Type 2 diabetes
- Hypertension
- Sleep apnea
- Joint problems
- Certain types of cancer
Understanding Additional Health Metrics
Thigh Circumference & Estimated Visceral Fat
Waist circumference alone can't distinguish between two very different kinds of abdominal fat: visceral adipose tissue (VAT), the fat packed around internal organs, and subcutaneous fat, the fat just under the skin. Visceral fat is the one most strongly linked to cardiometabolic risk, but measuring it directly normally requires a CT or DXA scan.
How to measure it
Stand upright with your weight evenly distributed on both feet and legs slightly parted. Wrap the tape around your upper thigh about 1 cm below the gluteal fold — the crease where your buttock meets the back of your thigh — holding it horizontal and snug against the skin, not pulled tight. This is typically also the widest point of the thigh (Topend Sports, Upper Thigh Girth measurement protocol).
Research has found a practical, imaging-free way to use this measurement. Proximal thigh circumference is made up almost entirely of subcutaneous fat and lean muscle, and — perhaps counterintuitively — is negatively associated with visceral fat once waist circumference is accounted for (Kuk et al., 2007). A larger thigh relative to the waist generally signals more peripheral, protective subcutaneous tissue rather than more visceral fat.
Samouda et al. (2013) used this relationship to build a CT-validated anthropometric model that subtracts a thigh-based estimate of subcutaneous fat from waist circumference to isolate visceral fat, using sex-specific equations that also factor in age and (for women) BMI. In their validation study this "apVAT" estimate explained 80.3% of the variance in CT-measured visceral fat in men and 83.6% in women. Larger studies have since found apVAT predicts metabolic biomarkers and long-term mortality risk more accurately than BMI or waist circumference alone (Brown et al., 2019).
How we use it: Thigh circumference is an optional field — leave it blank and everything else works as normal. Fill it in (along with your date of birth in Options, for age) and, once you've also logged a waistline, we'll estimate your visceral fat area in cm² and add it to your health report and chart.
What the number means: Your health report labels the estimate "within the normal range" below 100 cm², or "above the visceral-obesity threshold" at or above it. That cutoff comes from a 2002 Japanese consensus study that found 100 cm² was the visceral fat area that best separated people with multiple metabolic risk factors (high blood pressure, blood glucose, and lipids) from those without (Examination Committee of Criteria for "Obesity Disease" in Japan, 2002). It's the most widely cited single VAT-area threshold in the literature and is used internationally as a general reference point, though optimal cutoffs do vary somewhat by sex, age, and ethnicity — this is a screening guideline, not a diagnosis.
This is a statistical estimate from a validated regression model, not a diagnosis and not a substitute for medical imaging. Other anthropometric measures, like sagittal abdominal diameter, can outperform thigh circumference in some populations (Pinho et al., 2017; Owens et al., 1999) — no single tape-measure formula is definitive. Consult a qualified healthcare professional to interpret what your numbers mean for you.
Blood Pressure (Systolic/Diastolic)
Blood pressure is recorded as two numbers: systolic pressure (when the heart beats) over diastolic pressure (when the heart rests). Regular monitoring can help detect hypertension early, a condition that often has no symptoms but can lead to serious health problems like heart disease and stroke.
Blood Glucose
Blood glucose monitoring measures the amount of sugar in your blood. Available in both mg/dL (commonly used in the US) and mmol/L (used internationally), tracking these levels is crucial for managing diabetes and understanding how your body processes sugar. Even for those without diabetes, tracking can provide insights into metabolic health.
Primary Use Cases for Glucose Tracking
| Timing | Purpose | Target Range* |
|---|---|---|
| Fasting (morning) | Assess baseline metabolic state | <100 mg/dL (<5.6 mmol/L) |
| Post-meal (1–2 hr) | Measure glucose clearance efficiency | <140 mg/dL (<7.8 mmol/L) |
| Pre/post exercise | Understand glucose stability under load | Varies by individual |
*Target ranges for non-diabetic individuals. Consult your healthcare provider for personalized guidance.
Using tags with your glucose readings allows you to identify patterns related to specific foods, activities, or experiments. For example, tagging readings with "breakfast", "high-carb", or "fasted workout" can help you understand how different factors affect your glucose levels.
Key Benefits of Glucose Tracking
- Assessing baseline metabolic state (fasting readings)
- Measuring glucose clearance efficiency (post-meal readings)
- Understanding glucose stability under load (exercise readings)
You'll be able to tag readings for better categorization and search, helping you identify patterns and optimize your health strategies.
Heart Rate
Your heart rate, or pulse, indicates how many times your heart beats per minute. Tracking your resting heart rate over time can provide insights into your cardiovascular fitness and overall health. A lower resting heart rate generally indicates better cardiovascular fitness.
Blood Oxygen (SpO₂)
Blood oxygen saturation (SpO₂) measures the percentage of oxygen-saturated hemoglobin in your blood. Levels below 95% may indicate respiratory issues. Monitoring SpO₂ can be particularly important for those with respiratory conditions or during physical activity at high altitudes.
Steps Walked
Tracking daily steps encourages physical activity and helps maintain cardiovascular health. The often-cited goal of 10,000 steps per day is a good target for many, but any increase in activity can improve health outcomes. Regular walking has been linked to weight management, improved mood, and reduced risk of chronic diseases.
Hours Slept
Sleep duration and quality significantly impact overall health, cognitive function, and emotional well-being. Adults typically need 7-9 hours of quality sleep per night. Tracking sleep patterns can help identify issues and improve sleep hygiene, contributing to better health outcomes and daily performance.
Track Changes to See Results
This app helps you monitor the effectiveness of diet and lifestyle changes. You may be losing weight or improving your body composition slowly without noticing. Regular tracking provides objective data to see your progress over time.
Simple Commitment to Health
Instead of stressing or worrying about your weight, make the simple decision to commit to tracking your waistline, height, and weight on a regular basis. All you need is a measuring tape and scales, and it only takes minutes to measure.
Know Your Numbers
You may be slowly losing weight and not even realize it. You may have a healthy weight or even BMI but an unhealthy waistline and not even know it. Start keeping track now, it's free, quick and easy so you have no excuse.
Still have questions? Check our FAQ, or get in touch with us.
Sources:
- Cambridge University Press
- The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
- PLOS
- Obesity (Samouda et al., 2013)
- The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (Kuk et al., 2007)
- Nutrition and Metabolic Insights (Brown et al., 2019)
- PLOS ONE (Pinho et al., 2017)
- Obesity Research (Owens et al., 1999)
- International Journal of Epidemiology (Snijder et al., 2005)
- Circulation Journal (Japan Society for the Study of Obesity, 2002)
- Topend Sports (Upper Thigh Girth measurement protocol)