Waist to Hip Ratio Calculator
Where fat sits matters more than how much of it there is. These two ratios predict health risk better than BMI does, and they need nothing but a tape measure.
How the math works
Waist to hip ratio = waist / hip. WHO risk thresholds are 0.90 for men and 0.85 for women. Waist to height ratio = waist / height, with 0.5 as the healthy ceiling regardless of sex, age or build. Both use the same units on top and bottom, so inches or centimeters give the same answer.
Common questions
- What is a healthy waist to hip ratio?
- Below 0.90 for men and below 0.85 for women, by the World Health Organization thresholds. Above 1.0 and 0.85 respectively is classed as high risk for cardiovascular and metabolic disease.
- Is waist to height ratio better than BMI?
- For predicting cardiovascular risk, most evidence says yes. It captures abdominal fat, which BMI cannot see at all, and the rule is easy to remember: keep your waist under half your height.
- Where exactly do I measure my waist?
- At the narrowest point, usually just above the navel, standing relaxed after breathing out normally. Do not pull the tape tight or hold your stomach in, and measure at the same time of day if you are tracking it.