Waist-to-Hip Ratio Calculator
Calculate your waist-to-hip ratio and see your health risk category based on WHO guidelines.
What is waist-to-hip ratio?
Waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) is a simple measurement — your waist circumference divided by your hip circumference — that the World Health Organization (WHO) uses as an indicator of body fat distribution and associated health risk. Unlike BMI, which only looks at overall weight relative to height, WHR specifically highlights whether fat is concentrated around the abdomen ("apple" shape) or the hips and thighs ("pear" shape). Abdominal fat is more strongly linked to cardiovascular and metabolic risk than fat stored elsewhere.
How to measure correctly
To measure your waist, wrap a tape measure around your torso at the narrowest point, usually just above the belly button, while breathing normally (not sucked in). To measure your hips, measure around the widest part of your buttocks. Divide waist by hip to get your ratio — for example, a 34-inch waist and 40-inch hips gives a ratio of 0.85.
WHO risk categories
According to WHO guidelines, health risk based on WHR differs by sex because men and women naturally carry fat differently. For men, a ratio under 0.90 is considered low risk, 0.90-0.99 is moderate risk, and 1.0 or above is high risk. For women, under 0.80 is low risk, 0.80-0.85 is moderate risk, and 0.85 or above is high risk. This is an estimate only and not medical advice — talk to a healthcare provider about your personal cardiovascular risk factors.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a healthy waist-to-hip ratio?
According to WHO guidelines, a healthy (low-risk) waist-to-hip ratio is under 0.90 for men and under 0.80 for women. Ratios above these thresholds are associated with increasingly elevated health risk.
How do I measure my waist and hips correctly?
Measure your waist at the narrowest point of your torso, typically just above the belly button, while breathing normally. Measure your hips at the widest point around your buttocks. Use a flexible tape measure held snug but not compressing the skin.
Why does waist-to-hip ratio matter for health?
Fat stored around the abdomen (visceral fat) is more strongly linked to cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome than fat stored around the hips and thighs. WHR helps identify this "apple-shaped" fat distribution pattern.
Why are the risk thresholds different for men and women?
Men and women naturally distribute body fat differently — women tend to carry more fat around the hips and thighs, while men tend to carry more around the abdomen. The WHO thresholds account for these typical sex-based differences.
Is waist-to-hip ratio better than BMI?
They measure different things. BMI estimates overall weight relative to height, while WHR specifically reflects fat distribution. Many researchers consider WHR (and waist circumference generally) a better predictor of cardiovascular risk than BMI alone, since it accounts for where fat is stored.
Can I lower my waist-to-hip ratio?
Yes — reducing overall body fat through a sustainable calorie deficit and regular exercise tends to reduce abdominal fat as part of overall fat loss, which lowers your waist measurement and, in turn, your WHR over time.
Can I spot-reduce belly fat to improve my ratio faster?
No — targeted fat loss in one specific area ("spot reduction") isn't supported by research. Fat loss tends to happen across the whole body based on genetics and overall calorie balance, though abdominal fat is often among the more responsive areas as overall body fat decreases.
Is this waist-to-hip ratio calculator medical advice?
No. This tool provides a general estimate based on WHO population guidelines and is not a substitute for a full cardiovascular risk assessment from a doctor or other qualified healthcare provider.