Waist-to-hip ratio is one indicator among many. It doesn't diagnose any condition on its own — talk to a doctor about your overall cardiovascular risk profile.
How it works
Measure your waist at the narrowest point, usually just above the belly button.
Measure your hips at the widest point around your buttocks.
We divide waist by hip to get your ratio, then compare it to WHO risk categories, which differ by sex.
This ratio reflects body fat distribution, not total body fat or overall health. Use it alongside other measures like BMI and blood pressure, not in isolation.
Frequently asked questions
Your waist circumference divided by your hip circumference. It's used as an indicator of body fat distribution and cardiovascular risk, since fat carried around the waist is linked to higher health risk than fat carried around the hips.
BMI only considers height and weight. Waist-to-hip ratio specifically looks at fat distribution — "apple-shaped" fat distribution (more around the waist) is associated with higher cardiovascular risk than "pear-shaped" distribution (more around the hips), even at the same BMI.
Measure your waist at the narrowest point, usually just above the belly button, without holding your breath in. Measure your hips at the widest point around your buttocks. Use a flexible tape measure, snug but not tight.
For men: below 0.90 is low risk, 0.90-0.99 is moderate risk, 1.0+ is high risk. For women: below 0.80 is low risk, 0.80-0.84 is moderate risk, 0.85+ is high risk.