Last updated: 2026-06-21

Waist-to-Hip Ratio

The waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) is the circumference of the waist divided by the circumference of the hips. It is a simple measure of how body fat is distributed: a higher ratio means more fat is carried around the abdomen relative to the hips, a pattern linked to higher cardiometabolic risk. This calculator returns the ratio and places it in a sex-specific risk band.

Why fat distribution matters

Two people can share the same body mass index yet face very different health risks depending on where they store fat. Fat concentrated around the abdomen — so-called central or visceral adiposity — is more strongly associated with type-2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease than fat carried on the hips and thighs. Because the waist-to-hip ratio contrasts these two regions directly, it captures this pattern in a single number.

The formula and the thresholds

$\mathrm{WHR} = \dfrac{\text{waist circumference}}{\text{hip circumference}}$

Since both measurements share the same unit, the ratio is dimensionless. The World Health Organization treats a ratio above 0.90 in men and above 0.85 in women as marking substantially increased risk. A commonly used three-band reading is:

• Men: below 0.90 lower risk, 0.90–0.99 moderate, 1.0 and above high.
• Women: below 0.80 lower risk, 0.80–0.84 moderate, 0.85 and above high.

The cut-offs differ by sex because women typically carry more fat around the hips, lowering the ratio for the same level of abdominal fat.

Worked example

At 0.90 he sits on the threshold between the lower and moderate bands for men — a useful prompt to look at waist circumference and overall lifestyle alongside the ratio. The ratio itself is the same whatever unit the measurements are taken in.

Limitations

The ratio is a screening measure, not a diagnosis. It does not distinguish muscle from fat, and measurement technique affects the result, so consistent tape placement matters. It is best read alongside other measures such as the BMI Calculator and the Waist-to-Height Ratio Calculator, which compare body fat to height rather than to the hips.