How to work out your waist-to-hip ratio
- Measure your waist midway between your lowest rib and the top of your hip bone, breathing out normally, and your hips around the widest part of your buttocks.
- Choose your units and Sex, and enter both measurements. Add your height to see the waist-to-height ratio too.
- Read your ratio and how it compares with the WHO cut-off, along with what your waist size alone suggests.
WHO cut-offs
From the WHO report Waist circumference and waist–hip ratio (expert consultation, Geneva, December 2008):
| Measure | Men | Women | Risk of metabolic complications |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waist | over 94 cm | over 80 cm | Increased |
| Waist | over 102 cm | over 88 cm | Substantially increased |
| Waist-to-hip ratio | 0.90 or more | 0.85 or more | Substantially increased |
Why waist size matters
BMI uses only height and weight, so it can’t tell where your fat is. Fat stored around the abdomen is more closely linked with type 2 diabetes and heart disease than fat on the hips and thighs, and the waist-to-hip ratio is a simple way to see how your weight is spread. Measure the same way each time, on bare skin or thin clothing, so changes over time are real. Use it alongside the BMI calculator rather than instead of it.