Waist-to-Hip Ratio
Divide your waist by your hips to see how your body stores fat — and what that means for cardiometabolic risk.
Two tape measurements
All you need is your waist and hip circumference in the same unit — the ratio does the rest.
A screening signal
WHR estimates risk from fat distribution; it is not a diagnosis and works best alongside other measures.
What is the waist-to-hip ratio?
Where you carry fat, in one number
The waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) is your waist circumference divided by your hip circumference. It describes where your body stores fat rather than how much you weigh. A higher ratio means more fat sits around the abdomen — the "apple" shape — while a lower ratio reflects fat carried around the hips and thighs — the "pear" shape. According to the World Health Organization, abdominal fat is more closely tied to heart disease and type 2 diabetes than fat stored elsewhere, which is why WHR is a useful complement to body weight measures.
The calculation is deliberately simple, which is part of its appeal: anyone with a tape measure can do it.
WHR = waist circumference ÷ hip circumferenceBecause both measurements share the same unit, those units cancel and the ratio is dimensionless. That is why you can measure in centimetres or inches and get the identical result, as long as you do not mix the two. The number you get is almost always between about 0.65 and 1.10 for adults.
Suppose a man measures a 96 cm waist and a 100 cm hip.
Measure consistently
Waist at the narrowest point after breathing out: 96 cm. Hips at the widest point: 100 cm.Divide waist by hip
96 ÷ 100 = 0.96.Compare to the cut-off
For men, the WHO increased-risk threshold is 0.90. 0.96 is above it.Read the result
A WHR of 0.96 falls in the increased-risk band, suggesting more central fat and a good reason to look at other markers too.
The WHO 2008 expert consultation set the cut-offs below. They are screening thresholds drawn from large populations, not personal verdicts.
Lower risk
Below 0.90 for men and below 0.85 for women. Fat distribution is in the range linked to lower cardiometabolic risk.
Increased risk
0.90 or above for men and 0.85 or above for women — the WHO marker for substantially increased risk of metabolic complications.
Context matters
Age, ethnicity, muscle, and pregnancy all shift what is typical, so read the band alongside the rest of your health picture.
Research shows that WHR can flag elevated cardiovascular risk even in people whose body mass index looks normal, because it captures abdominal fat that weight alone misses. That is why many clinicians look at WHR and BMI together — you can check the latter with our BMI calculator.
Your ratio is most useful as a baseline you track over time. A single reading tells you which band you are in today; the same measurement repeated every few months tells you the direction you are heading. A falling waist-to-hip ratio usually reflects losing abdominal fat, which is the change most strongly associated with lower risk. Because the ratio is sensitive to where you place the tape, the value of consistency is hard to overstate — measure at the same landmarks, at the same time of day, in the same posture. If you are also tracking activity and energy balance, our calories burned calculator can help you connect movement to changes in body composition.
A simple ratio cannot capture everything about your health.
A screening tool, not a diagnosis
The waist-to-hip ratio is a general indicator, and this calculator is for information only — it is not medical advice. The WHO cut-offs are based largely on adult populations of European descent and may fit other groups less well; the ratio can be skewed by a muscular lower body, by pregnancy, or by inconsistent measuring; and it cannot separate harmful visceral fat from fat just under the skin. If your result is in the increased-risk band, or you have other risk factors, consult a doctor or qualified health professional who can interpret it in the context of your full health.