VitalMetrics

Waist-to-Hip Ratio Calculator

Your waist-to-hip ratio shows where your body stores weight. Compare it with the World Health Organization cut-offs for men and women.

Units
Sex
in
in
0.80waist ÷ hipsBelow WHO cut-off
Below cut-off
Substantially increased risk
Waist-to-hip ratio: 0.80, Below cut-off
WHO cut-off (women)
0.85
Body shape
Balanced
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Explain my result

Sends only the numbers shown above (no name, no account) to an AI model through Vercel AI Gateway. It explains; it doesn’t diagnose.

How it’s calculated

WHR = waist circumference ÷ hip circumference, both in the same units. A waist of 80 cm and hips of 100 cm give 0.80.

Why WHR is used

In the INTERHEART study of about 27,000 people across 52 countries, waist-to-hip ratio was more strongly associated with heart attack risk than BMI. A higher ratio usually means more abdominal fat relative to fat on the hips and thighs. The pear/apple shape labels above are informal descriptions, not medical categories.

WHR can mislead when both measurements change together (for example, when someone loses weight evenly). For tracking, pair it with plain waist circumference or the waist-to-height ratio, and discuss a high reading with your doctor.

Questions people ask

What is a healthy waist-to-hip ratio?

A 2008 World Health Organization expert consultation described a ratio of 0.90 or more in men and 0.85 or more in women as indicating substantially increased risk of metabolic complications. Below those values is generally considered lower risk.

How do I measure waist and hips for WHR?

WHO protocol: waist midway between the lowest rib and the top of the hip bone; hips around the widest part of the buttocks. Stand with feet together, arms relaxed, and measure at the end of a normal breath out.

Is waist-to-hip ratio or waist-to-height ratio better?

Both reflect fat around the middle. Waist-to-height needs only one tape measurement and has one cut-off for everyone, which is why UK guidance favours it. WHR is widely used in research and gives a sense of body shape.

Can I change my waist-to-hip ratio?

Waist size responds to overall weight loss, physical activity and sleep more than to targeted exercises. You can’t choose where fat comes off first.

Sources

  1. World Health Organization (2008). Waist circumference and waist–hip ratio: report of a WHO expert consultation, Geneva, 8–11 December 2008 (published 2011).
  2. Yusuf S et al. (2005). INTERHEART: obesity and the risk of myocardial infarction in 27,000 participants from 52 countries. Lancet 366:1640–1649.

Every formula on VitalMetrics is listed with its original reference on Sources & methods.

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