Waist to Hip Ratio Calculator
Where fat sits, not how much there is.
Work out Waist to Hip Ratio. Where fat sits, not how much there is. Every rate is an input, not an assertion.
Waist-to-hip ratio
0.9
Moderate risk · waist-to-height 0.5 (Increased risk)
Waist-to-height is the stronger single predictor of metabolic risk in most studies, and its rule is easy to remember: keep your waist under half your height. It works across ages and ethnicities better than either waist-to-hip or BMI does. Where fat sits matters more than how much there is. Visceral fat around the organs is metabolically active and strongly associated with cardiometabolic risk; subcutaneous fat on the hips and thighs is much less so, which is what these ratios are trying to detect. Measurement technique matters more than the third decimal place. Measure the waist at the narrowest point or at the navel — consistently, either way — at the end of a normal breath out, with the tape snug and not compressing.
How the Waist to Hip Ratio Calculator works
Waist-to-hip and waist-to-height ratios side by side, both categorised, with a note on which one the evidence favours. Waist-to-height is the stronger single predictor and has the simpler rule.
Also known as: waist to height ratio calculator · is my waist measurement healthy · apple or pear body shape · visceral fat risk calculator
Not medical advice. This calculator gives a general estimate, not medical advice. It cannot account for your individual health, medical history, or medication. Talk to a qualified healthcare professional before acting on any result.
Frequently asked questions
Which ratio should I use?
Waist-to-height, in most cases. It predicts metabolic risk better than waist-to-hip or BMI across ages and ethnicities, and its rule is memorable: keep your waist under half your height.
What is a healthy waist-to-hip ratio?
Broadly, under 0.90 for men and under 0.85 for women is considered low risk by WHO thresholds, with risk rising above those figures.
Why does fat distribution matter more than total fat?
Visceral fat around the organs is metabolically active and strongly associated with cardiometabolic risk. Subcutaneous fat on the hips and thighs is much less so.
Where exactly do I measure?
The waist at the narrowest point or at the navel — consistently, either way — at the end of a normal breath out, tape snug but not compressing. The hips at the widest point of the buttocks.
Is this better than BMI?
For metabolic risk, yes. BMI cannot distinguish muscle from fat or tell where the fat sits, and a waist measurement addresses both of those blind spots directly.
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