Find your waist-to-hip ratio and compare it with the World Health Organization cutoffs. Measure your waist and hips in the same unit. Free, private, and runs entirely in your browser.
Divide your waist circumference by your hip circumference, using the same unit for both. The World Health Organization treats a ratio above 0.90 for men and above 0.85 for women as a sign of abdominal obesity and higher health risk.
How do I measure my waist and hips? Measure the waist at the narrowest point or midway between the lowest rib and the top of the hip bone, and the hips at the widest part of the buttocks, with a soft tape held level.
What is a healthy waist-to-hip ratio? At or below 0.90 for men and 0.85 for women according to the WHO cutoffs. Lower ratios are generally associated with lower risk.
A woman has a waist of 80 cm and hips of 100 cm. Her ratio is 80 ÷ 100 = 0.80, which is below the 0.85 cutoff. A man with a waist of 95 cm and hips of 100 cm has a ratio of 0.95, which is above the 0.90 cutoff.
Is waist-to-hip ratio better than BMI? It measures fat distribution, which BMI does not, so the two give different information. Many clinicians look at both.
Does age affect the ratio? Body shape changes with age, and the WHO cutoffs are for adults.
Studies from the 1980s linked fat stored around the abdomen with a higher risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes. That led researchers to use the waist-to-hip ratio as a simple indicator, and a WHO expert consultation in 2008 reviewed the evidence and set the cutoffs of 0.90 for men and 0.85 for women that are still widely quoted.
Use this calculator to track changes in body shape alongside weight, or to prepare for a conversation with your doctor. This is general information, not medical advice. Talk to a doctor or other qualified professional about your own results.
Should I also check my waist alone? Yes. Waist circumference and the waist-to-height ratio are also used as risk indicators.
Can the ratio change quickly? It changes slowly with weight and fat loss or gain, so compare measurements over weeks rather than days.