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Waist-to-hip ratio calculator

  

Measure the waist at the narrowest point, or midway between the lowest rib and the top of the hip bone, and the hips at the widest point, in the same unit. The WHO cut-offs are 0.90 for men and 0.85 for women. They are for adults and are a screen, not a diagnosis.

Sex

cm
cm

Waist-to-hip ratio

0.84

Below the WHO cut-off of 0.85.

WHO cut-off
0.85
Waist alone
Over 80 cm
Below cut-offAbove cut-off

Why the middle matters

Two people can have the same weight and the same BMI and very different health risk. The difference is often where they carry fat. Fat stored around the abdomen, the so-called visceral fat, is linked to heart disease and type 2 diabetes more strongly than fat on the hips and thighs.

The waist-to-hip ratio gives a simple check. Divide your waist by your hips. A woman with an 82 cm waist and 98 cm hips has a ratio of 0.84, just under the WHO cut-off of 0.85. With the same hips and an 88 cm waist, the ratio is 0.90, which is above it.

South Asians tend to store fat around the abdomen at lower body weights, so the middle is worth watching even when BMI looks normal. The WHO also gives waist-alone thresholds of 94 cm for men and 80 cm for women for increased risk.

The measurement needs care. Use a soft tape, keep it level, and measure at the same time of day. A high ratio is a prompt to look at diet, activity and sleep, and to ask a doctor about blood pressure and blood sugar.

Sources

What this calculator does not account for

  • Measurement error.
  • Age, ethnicity and muscle mass.
  • Other risk factors such as blood pressure.

How this is calculated

Formula: Waist divided by hip

WHR =waist circumference ÷ hip circumference

What the symbols mean

  • waistMeasured at the narrowest point, or midway between the lowest rib and the hip bone.
  • hipMeasured at the widest part of the buttocks.

Good to know

  • Use the same unit for both. The ratio has no units.
  • WHO cut-offs for abdominal obesity are 0.90 for men and 0.85 for women.

Read the full methodologyFound an error? Contact us

Worked examples

Each example is worked out by the same code as the calculator above.

Female, waist 82 cm and hips 98 cm

Ratio 0.84, below the WHO cut-off of 0.85.

Same hips, waist 88 cm

Ratio 0.90, above the cut-off.

Embed this calculator

The frame shows the tool only.

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Questions

What is a healthy waist-to-hip ratio?

Under 0.90 for men and under 0.85 for women, according to the WHO.

Why use it as well as BMI?

BMI cannot tell fat from muscle or where fat sits. Fat around the middle is more strongly linked with heart disease and diabetes.

How do I measure it correctly?

Stand relaxed, breathe out normally, and use a soft tape level around the body. Do not pull it tight.

Is it a diagnosis?

No. It is a screen. If the ratio is high, talk to a doctor about other checks.