What is waist-to-hip ratio?
Waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) divides your waist measurement by your hip measurement. It shows where you store fat, which matters: fat around the belly (an "apple" shape) carries more health risk than fat around the hips and thighs (a "pear" shape). Because of this, WHR can flag risk that BMI misses.
WHO risk categories
- Men — Low risk: below 0.90 · Moderate: 0.90–0.99 · High: 1.0 and above
- Women — Low risk: below 0.80 · Moderate: 0.80–0.84 · High: 0.85 and above
Waist-to-height ratio — an even simpler check
A great rule of thumb: keep your waist under half your height. A waist-to-height ratio under 0.5 is healthy for most adults; 0.5–0.6 signals increased risk and above 0.6 is high. It works across ages and body types and needs just two measurements.
Is WHR better than BMI?
They measure different things. BMI estimates overall weight-for-height; WHR shows fat distribution. Used together — plus a waist measurement — they give a fuller picture than either alone. Pair with the BMI and body fat calculators.
Where exactly do I measure?
Waist at the narrowest point (usually just above the navel), hips at the widest part of your buttocks. Stand relaxed, breathe normally.
My WHR is high — what now?
Reducing belly fat through a modest calorie deficit and regular activity lowers WHR and health risk. The deficit planner can map out a sustainable pace.