Waist-to-Hip Ratio Calculator
Find your waist-to-hip ratio, a simple measure of where your body stores fat and of heart-health risk.
About the Waist-to-Hip Ratio Calculator
Fat stored around the waist (an “apple” shape) carries more health risk than fat around the hips. The World Health Organization treats a waist-to-hip ratio of 0.90 or more in men, or 0.85 or more in women, as a sign of abdominal obesity.
The formula
WHR = waist circumference ÷ hip circumference
Worked example
Example: Waist-to-hip ratio = 0.86
- Inputs: Units: lb / ft; Sex: Male; Waist (midway between lowest rib and hip bone): 37 in; Hips (widest part of the buttocks): 43 in.
- Formula: WHR = waist circumference ÷ hip circumference
- Result: Waist-to-hip ratio = 0.86
Things to keep in mind
- This is an estimate for general information, not medical advice. Talk to a doctor or other qualified professional about your health.
Questions people ask
Where exactly do I measure?
WHO protocol: waist midway between the lowest rib and the top of the hip bone; hips at the widest part of the buttocks.
Is it better than BMI?
It adds information about fat distribution, so it's best used alongside BMI.