A waist circumference of more than 35 inches in women and more than 40 in men indicates an unhealthy amount of visceral fat. Measure your belly at the level of the navel, not at the narrowest part of the torso. Don't suck in your gut or pull the tape tight enough to compress the area.

In 2026, the term "chubby belly" is generally a subjective, non-clinical descriptor used in fashion and social media to describe a midsection with visible soft tissue or "love handles" that doesn't necessarily qualify as "obese." In the "Body Positivity" and "Mid-Size" fashion movements, a chubby belly often corresponds to U.S. clothing sizes 10 to 16 (Large to XL), where the abdomen may protrude slightly over a waistband. Medically, however, doctors look at Waist-to-Hip Ratio (WHR) rather than just "chubbiness." For women, a waist circumference over 35 inches, and for men, over 40 inches, is often the threshold where "chubby" transitions into a health risk known as "central adiposity," which is linked to heart disease and Type 2 diabetes. The perception of what is "chubby" has shifted significantly in 2026 due to the influence of social media; what was once considered "overweight" in the 90s is often now labeled as a "natural" or "curvy" body type. Ultimately, a "chubby belly" is defined more by the "pinchable" subcutaneous fat—the soft fat just under the skin—rather than the dangerous "visceral" fat that surrounds internal organs and is firmer to the touch.