How to calculate your waist-to-hip ratio
Here’s how to get an accurate waist-to-hip ratio measurement:
- Stand up straight and breathe out. Use a tape measure to check the distance around the smallest part of your waist, just above your belly button. This is your waist circumference.
- Then measure the distance around the largest part of your hips—the widest part of your buttocks. This is your hip circumference.
- Calculate your WHR by dividing your waist circumference by your hip circumference.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a waist-to-hip ratio of more than 0.9 for men and 0.85 for women indicates an increased health risk.
What is the hip to waist ratio and why is it important?
Waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) is another measurement you can use to determine whether excess weight is putting your health at risk.
Whereas BMI (body mass index) calculates the ratio of your weight to your height, WHR measures the ratio of your waist circumference to your hip circumference, determining how much fat is stored on your waist, hips, and buttocks.
This is important because not all excess weight carries the same risks to your health. People who have more weight around their midsections are at higher risk for heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke and premature death, compared to people who carry more of their weight in their hips and thighs.
Importantly, you can have a healthy BMI and still have excess fat around your midsection, meaning you could still be at risk of developing certain diseases.
Waist to hip ratio measurement chart
| Health risk | Women | Men |
| Low | 0.8 or lower | 0.95 or lower |
| Moderate | 0.81-0.85 | 0.96-0.99 |
| High | 0.86 or higher | 1.0 or higher |
What about BMI?
Although BMI isn't the most accurate measure of someone's health it's a good starting point when it comes to assessing weight-related health risk, and whether you might benefit from losing weight.
While BMI continues to be the best estimate of weight-related health risk at a population level, it's worth noting it doesn’t take wider determinants of health into account, such as family history, lifestyle or body composition.