What the ratio measures
Waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) divides your waist circumference by your hip circumference. A higher number means more of your weight sits around the middle. That matters because abdominal fat is linked to heart disease and type 2 diabetes more closely than fat stored on the hips and thighs. The ratio is a fast, tape-only way to flag that pattern.
Because both measurements share a unit, the unit divides out. A waist and hip measured in inches give the same ratio as the same body measured in centimeters, so you can use whichever tape you own.
The WHO risk bands
The thresholds here come from the World Health Organization report Waist Circumference and Waist–Hip Ratio: Report of a WHO Expert Consultation (2008). The WHO calls the top band substantially increased risk. Read these as a population association, not a diagnosis: they describe average risk across groups, and any one person can sit outside the pattern.
| Risk band | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| Low | Below 0.90 | Below 0.80 |
| Moderate | 0.90 – 0.99 | 0.80 – 0.84 |
| High | 1.00 and above | 0.85 and above |
How to measure accurately
A sloppy tape moves the ratio more than any real change in your body, so measure with care:
- Waist at its narrowest point, usually just above the navel, after breathing out.
- Hips at the widest point of the buttocks.
- Tape level all the way around and snug without denting the skin.
- Same unit for both, and ideally the same time of day when you repeat it.
What to do with the number
A raised ratio is a prompt to look closer, not a verdict. Pair it with a weight-status check from the BMI calculator and a composition estimate from the body fat calculator. If you want a tape-based body fat figure that also uses the waist, the Navy body fat calculator works from the same measurements. If your ratio sits in a higher band, it is worth raising with a doctor.
