Calculate your waist-to-hip ratio and assess your cardiovascular health risk.
Waist-Hip Ratio (WHR) is calculated by dividing your waist circumference by your hip circumference. It is one of the best predictors of cardiovascular disease risk and metabolic health. Unlike BMI, WHR indicates where fat is stored — abdominal fat (apple shape) is significantly more dangerous than hip and thigh fat (pear shape). Our WHR calculator gives you instant results with health risk interpretation.
For men specifically, a WHR above 0.90 is generally considered to indicate increased health risk, while for women the equivalent threshold is typically set at 0.85.For Women: Low risk below 0.80, Moderate 0.80-0.85, High risk above 0.85. For Men: Low risk below 0.90, Moderate 0.90-0.95, High risk above 0.95. WHO guidelines apply to most adults. Research suggests stricter targets for South Asians who tend to store more abdominal fat at lower BMIs.
Waist: Measure at the narrowest point, just above the belly button. Stand relaxed, exhale normally. Do not suck in. Hips: Measure at the widest point of your buttocks, about 20cm below the waist. Keep tape horizontal and snug but not tight.
Visceral fat surrounding internal organs actively produces inflammatory hormones and disrupts metabolism. High visceral fat significantly increases risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension — even in people with normal BMI. This "normal weight obesity" (thin outside, fat inside) is why WHR is a better health predictor than weight alone.
Aerobic exercise specifically targets visceral fat. Strength training increases metabolism. Reducing refined carbohydrates, sugar, and alcohol directly reduces belly fat. Adequate sleep reduces cortisol which promotes belly fat storage. Even modest weight loss of 5-10% can significantly reduce WHR and associated health risks.
Waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) is used clinically because where body fat is stored matters as much as how much total fat a person carries. Fat stored around the abdomen (an "apple" shape, higher WHR) is more strongly linked to cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes risk than fat stored around the hips and thighs (a "pear" shape, lower WHR), according to research published by the World Health Organization and multiple cardiovascular studies. This is why two people with an identical BMI can have meaningfully different health risk profiles based on WHR alone.
The World Health Organization defines increased health risk at a WHR above 0.90 for men and above 0.85 for women, though these thresholds can vary slightly between different health organizations and population studies.
BMI can't distinguish between muscle and fat, or where fat is distributed, which is exactly the gap WHR helps fill. A person with an athletic build and a normal BMI could still show risk indicators through WHR if fat distribution leans toward the abdomen, making it a useful complementary metric rather than a replacement for other health measurements.
Waist-hip ratio (WHR) is the ratio of your waist circumference to your hip circumference. It is used to assess body fat distribution and health risks.
For women, a WHR below 0.85 is considered healthy. For men, a WHR below 0.90 is considered healthy. Higher values indicate greater health risk.
Fat stored around the abdomen (apple shape) is more dangerous than fat stored around the hips (pear shape) as it increases risk of heart disease and diabetes.
Measure your waist at the narrowest point, usually just above the belly button. Stand relaxed and breathe normally while measuring.
The World Health Organization generally considers a WHR above 0.90 for men and above 0.85 for women to indicate increased health risk, though thresholds vary slightly between organizations.
They measure different things - WHR reflects fat distribution while BMI reflects overall weight relative to height. Using both together gives a fuller picture than either alone.
Yes, this is exactly why WHR is useful - body fat distribution varies between individuals even at the same BMI, and that distribution affects health risk.
