In obesity, cuff selection should consider arm circumference such that:

• A. A small cuff is used to get a tighter fit
• B. In obesity, cuff selection should consider arm circumference such that a large or extra-large cuff is chosen, and cuff bladder covers the arm as recommended
• C. The cuff is placed over clothing
• D. The cuff is inflated to 300 mmHg before measurement

Answer: (B)

Cuff size must match the arm so the measurement reflects true arterial pressure. The inflatable bladder should encircle a large portion of the arm and have a width about 40% of the arm’s circumference, with the bladder covering roughly 80–100% of the arm. In obesity, arm circumference is often larger, so selecting a large or extra‑large cuff ensures the bladder sits properly around the arm and covers the recommended proportion. This sizing prevents artificially high readings that come from a cuff that’s too small and helps achieve an accurate measurement. Using a cuff that’s too small changes the pressure required to occlude the brachial artery, skewing results, while placing the cuff over clothing or inflating to extreme pressures is unsafe and yields unreliable data.