Waist-to-Hip Ratio Calculator

WHR divides your waist circumference by your hip circumference to estimate how fat is distributed around your body. BMI uses weight and height to gauge total body mass but says nothing about where fat sits. WHR captures central (visceral) fat stored around the abdomen, which is a stronger predictor of cardiometabolic risk, so a person with a normal BMI can still carry a high-risk WHR.

WHO identifies substantially increased metabolic risk at a waist-to-hip ratio of 0.90 or above for men and 0.85 or above for women. This calculator reports whether your result is below the relevant cutoff or at or above it, without adding unsupported WHO risk bands. WHR is a screening signal, not a diagnosis, and population-specific guidance may use different thresholds.

Apple-shaped bodies carry more weight around the abdomen, which raises WHR. Pear-shaped bodies carry more weight around the hips and thighs, which lowers WHR. The distinction matters because abdominal fat is metabolically active and linked to higher rates of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure, while hip and thigh fat does not carry those risks to the same degree.

Stand relaxed and breathe out normally before each measurement. For a WHO-style measurement, place a soft tape midway between the lowest rib and the top of the hip bone. Measure the hips around the widest point of the buttocks. Keep the tape level and snug without compressing the skin. Use the same landmarks each time, because switching between the narrowest waist, navel, and midpoint can change the ratio.

Not perfectly. The cut-offs are based on broad population averages and may under- or overestimate risk for people of Asian or South Asian descent, where lower thresholds are often recommended, and for older adults whose body composition changes with age. Use WHR as one signal alongside BMI, absolute waist circumference, and advice from a healthcare provider.