HEALTH TOOL
Waist-to-Hip Ratio Calculator
Calculate waist-to-hip ratio and its associated health risk category.
Waist-to-hip ratio
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Health risk category
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About this tool
Calculate your waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) — a simple measurement the World Health Organization uses as an indicator of body fat distribution and related health risk, alongside measures like BMI.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I measure waist and hip correctly?
- Waist: measure around the narrowest point, usually just above the belly button. Hip: measure around the widest part of your hips/buttocks. Keep the tape snug but not compressing the skin.
- What do the risk categories mean?
- Based on WHO guidance: for men, a ratio above 0.90 and for women above 0.85 indicates increased health risk associated with abdominal fat. These are population-level thresholds, not individual diagnoses.
- How is WHR different from BMI?
- BMI looks at overall weight relative to height, while WHR specifically reflects where fat is distributed on the body — which research suggests can be an important risk indicator on its own.