Waist-to-Hip Ratio Calculator
Calculate your waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and see if it's above the World Health Organization cut-off for increased health risk: 0.90 for men, 0.85 for women.
📏 Waist-to-Hip Ratio
Results
💡 How the Waist-to-Hip Ratio Calculator Works
Your waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) is your waist measurement divided by your hip measurement. It shows where your body stores fat: a higher ratio means more fat around the abdomen. The calculator compares your result with the World Health Organization (WHO) cut-offs. A waist of 80 cm and hips of 100 cm give a WHR of 0.80, below the cut-off for both men and women.
The formula and WHO cut-offs
Substantially increased risk of metabolic complications (WHO): WHR of 0.90 or more in men, 0.85 or more in women
The WHO's 2008 expert consultation used these thresholds to identify abdominal obesity and a substantially increased risk of metabolic complications such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Below the cut-off, the calculator shows "not increased".
Example results
| Person | Waist | Hips | WHR | Risk (WHO) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Man | 80 cm | 100 cm | 0.80 | Not increased |
| Man | 94 cm | 102 cm | 0.92 | Substantially increased |
| Man | 100 cm | 98 cm | 1.02 | Substantially increased |
| Woman | 72 cm | 98 cm | 0.73 | Not increased |
| Woman | 80 cm | 100 cm | 0.80 | Not increased |
| Woman | 86 cm | 100 cm | 0.86 | Substantially increased |
| Woman | 90 cm | 104 cm | 0.87 | Substantially increased |
Maximum waist below the cut-off for your hip size
Multiply your hip measurement by the cut-off to find the waist at which you'd reach it:
| Hips | Men (× 0.90) | Women (× 0.85) |
|---|---|---|
| 90 cm | 81.0 cm | 76.5 cm |
| 95 cm | 85.5 cm | 80.8 cm |
| 100 cm | 90.0 cm | 85.0 cm |
| 105 cm | 94.5 cm | 89.2 cm |
| 110 cm | 99.0 cm | 93.5 cm |
| 115 cm | 103.5 cm | 97.8 cm |
How to measure correctly
The WHO measurement method:
- Waist: find the bottom of your lowest rib and the top of your hip bone (iliac crest) at your side, and measure around your body at the midpoint between them.
- Hips: measure around the widest part of your buttocks.
- Stand upright with feet together and arms relaxed, and measure at the end of a normal breath out.
- Keep the tape level and snug against the skin without compressing it.
- Take each measurement twice; if they differ by more than 1 cm, measure again.
Some organisations measure the waist at the top of the hip bone instead, which can give a slightly different result. Use the same method each time so your results are comparable.
Why fat distribution matters
Fat stored around the abdomen, including visceral fat around the internal organs, is more closely linked to metabolic and cardiovascular disease than fat on the hips and thighs. This is why bodies are sometimes described as "apple" shaped (more fat at the waist) or "pear" shaped (more at the hips). In the INTERHEART study of about 27,000 people in 52 countries, published in The Lancet in 2005, waist-to-hip ratio was more strongly associated with heart attack risk than BMI.
WHR vs waist circumference vs BMI
- BMI uses only height and weight, so it can't tell where fat is stored or distinguish fat from muscle. Check it with the BMI calculator.
- Waist circumference alone is simpler. The WHO consultation reported cut-offs of more than 94 cm (men) and 80 cm (women) for increased risk, and more than 102 cm and 88 cm for substantially increased risk, in European populations.
- Waist-to-height ratio adjusts waist size for height; try the waist-to-height ratio calculator.
The measures work best together. For body composition, see the body fat calculator.
Limitations
- Cut-offs may differ for some populations; the WHO noted that people of Asian descent, for example, may have higher risk at lower measurements.
- WHR isn't designed for children, during pregnancy or for people with conditions that cause abdominal swelling.
- Two people with the same ratio can have very different sizes, so WHR is best read alongside waist size and BMI.
- Small measuring errors change the ratio noticeably; careful, consistent measuring matters.
Lowering a high WHR
Losing excess weight usually reduces waist size, which lowers WHR. Regular physical activity, a balanced diet, limiting alcohol, not smoking and getting enough sleep all support this. The calorie calculator can help you plan intake. If your result is above the cut-off, consider discussing it with a doctor, who may check your blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol.
Sources
- World Health Organization (2011). Waist circumference and waist–hip ratio: report of a WHO expert consultation, Geneva, 8–11 December 2008
- Yusuf S, Hawken S, Ôunpuu S, et al. (2005). Obesity and the risk of myocardial infarction in 27,000 participants from 52 countries: a case-control study (INTERHEART). The Lancet, 366(9497), 1640–1649.
- MDCalc: Waist-to-hip ratio (measurement method)