Health WHO Guidelines

Waist-to-Hip Ratio + Waist-to-Height Calculator

WHR and WHtR are stronger predictors of cardiovascular and metabolic disease risk than BMI alone. Enter your measurements to assess your body shape and health risk profile.

Sex

Units

Height

Waist Circumference

Measure at the narrowest point between ribs and hips, usually at the navel. Exhale naturally.

Hip Circumference

Measure at the widest point across the buttocks.

0.87

Waist-to-Hip Ratio

0.49

Waist-to-Height Ratio

Body Shape

Ideal Waist (max)

Waist to Reduce

Cardiovascular Risk

Body Shape Assessment

Apple

WHR higher risk

Pear

WHR lower risk

Hourglass

WHR healthy

WHR Risk Categories (WHO)

Risk Level	Men (WHR)	Women (WHR)
Low risk	< 0.90	< 0.80
Moderate risk	0.90 – 0.99	0.80 – 0.85
High risk	≥ 1.00	≥ 0.86

Waist-to-Height Ratio	Assessment
< 0.40	Underweight
0.40 – 0.50	Healthy
0.50 – 0.60	Overweight
> 0.60	Obese (high risk)

Sources: WHO (2011); Ashwell & Hsieh (2005) WHtR "keep your waist less than half your height" rule.

WHR vs WHtR vs BMI - Which is Best?

Research consistently shows that abdominal fat distribution (measured by WHR and WHtR) predicts cardiovascular and metabolic disease better than BMI alone:

Metric	Predicts CVD Risk	Accounts for Height	Simple Rule
BMI	Moderate	✓	18.5–25 is healthy
WHR	Good	✗	<0.9 men / <0.8 women
WHtR	Best	✓	<0.5 (waist < half height)