Waists too big!

More than half of British women have waists that are larger than the recommended healthy size, experts say.

The researchers found the average waist measurement for women is 84.9cm (33.43in), compared with the healthy size of 80cm (31.49in). Nuffield Health's Dr Davina Deniszczyc said it was a "worrying problem." Fat being stored around the waist can contribute to breast cancer and infertility.

Nuffield Health examined data from more than 30,000 women and found 57% had a waist larger than the healthy size.

Women in the north of England have the largest waists, with an average circumference of 87cm, compared to 81.9cm in London. 52.5% of the women have a body mass index (BMI) higher than the healthy range, while 16.2% were morbidly obese.

The BMI is calculated by taking your weight in kilograms and dividing it by your height in metres squared.

A BMI level measured between 25 and 29.9 means a person is regarded as overweight. If your BMI is over 30 then you are clinically obese.