WHRLab

Waist-Hip Ratio Calculator

Waist ÷ hip, with WHO risk category for males and females.

Waist (cm)

Hip (cm)

Waist-Hip ratio

0.896

Low risk

What you entered

Waist: 86 cmHip: 96 cmGender: male

1
Divide waist by hip
86 ÷ 96= 0.896
2
Compare to WHO risk thresholds
Low <0.90 · Moderate 0.90–1.0 · High ≥1.0= Low risk

Result

Waist-Hip ratio: 0.896

A waist-hip ratio of 0.896 falls in the "Low risk" category — this flags whether fat is stored more around the abdomen (higher cardiometabolic risk) or the hips.

Waist-to-hip ratio and its risk band

Waist divided by hip circumference. The WHO risk thresholds differ by sex: 0.85 for women and 0.90 for men.

Waist	Hip	Sex	Ratio	Risk band
80 cm	100 cm	Female	0.80	Moderate risk
90 cm	100 cm	Female	0.90	High risk
85 cm	100 cm	Male	0.85	Low risk
95 cm	100 cm	Male	0.95	Moderate risk
100 cm	100 cm	Male	1.00	High risk

The ratio tracks where fat is stored rather than how much there is, which is why it adds information BMI misses. General wellness information only, not medical advice. Discuss any health decision with a qualified clinician.

Where fat is stored matters, not just how much

Waist-hip ratio flags 'apple-shaped' fat distribution (around the abdomen) versus 'pear-shaped' (around the hips) — abdominal fat is more strongly linked to cardiovascular and metabolic risk than fat stored elsewhere.

Why the WHO tracks it separately from BMI

Two people can share the same BMI but have very different waist-hip ratios — this measurement adds information BMI alone can't capture about where body fat actually sits.

Frequently asked questions

What is a healthy waist-to-hip ratio?

WHO guidelines: for men, below 0.90 is low risk, 0.90–0.99 is moderate, 1.0+ is high risk. For women: below 0.80 is low risk, 0.80–0.84 is moderate, 0.85+ is high risk. These cutoffs are based on large studies linking abdominal fat distribution to heart disease, diabetes, and stroke risk.

How do I measure my waist and hips correctly?

Waist: measure at the narrowest point between ribs and hip bones (usually at or slightly above the navel), exhaled, not sucking in. Hips: measure at the widest point around the buttocks. Use a flexible tape measure, keep it level and snug but not compressing the skin.

Is waist-hip ratio better than BMI?

For predicting cardiovascular risk, yes — multiple studies show WHR is a stronger predictor of heart disease than BMI. BMI can't tell where fat is stored. Someone with a normal BMI but high WHR (normal weight, central obesity) has higher health risks than their BMI suggests.