How to Calculate Waist to Hip Ratio to Reveal more about Your Weight Status

Waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) is a fast and easy way to check how much weight you have around your middle. It is one of several measures (along with BMI) your doctor can apply to understand if you are overweight, especially if that excess weight is putting you at certain health risks.

Because, when it comes to your health risks, not all extra weight is the same. People who are with more weight around their midsection (an apple body shape) are at more significant risk for heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and early death than those who are with more of their weight in their thighs and hips (a pear body shape). In that case, no matter whether your BMI is in the normal range, your risk of diseases is increased.

For example, notice that a large waist and wide hips are sign accumulation of so-called “visceral fat” – the harmful deep “hidden” fat that surrounds the abdominal organs and may lead to high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease. That’s why WHR (waist-hip ratio) can give you an additional view on body fat distribution, different from that indicated by weight and height (trough BMI).

How to Calculate Your Waist-to-Hip Ratio

You don’t necessarily have to rely on your doctor to find your waist-hip ratio; you can quickly figure out it on your own.

First, it is necessary to find out your waist circumference(waistline)

Breathe out in a stand-up position, then measure the distance around the smallest part of your waist, precisely above your belly button.
The second is to measure the length around the most substantial part of your hips, and more precisely, the fullest part of your buttocks, to find out your hip circumference.

Calculate your WHR By Dividing your waist circumference and your hip circumference, and you will learn your WHR figure.

Waist-to-Hip Ratio Chart

A healthy WHR (according to the World Health Organization-WHO) is:

0.9 or less for men
0.85 or less in women

When WHR is 1.0 or higher, in both men and women, it is an indicator of a higher risk of conditions that are overweight related.

Health risk	Low	Moderate	High
Women	0.80 or lower	0.81–0.85	0.86 or higher
Men	0.95 or lower	0.96–1.0	1.0 or higher