Waist to Hip Ratio Calculator

What it measures

Your waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) is the circumference of your waist divided by the circumference of your hips. It is a simple, validated indicator of central adiposity — the accumulation of fat around the abdomen — which is independently associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and metabolic syndrome. Unlike BMI, WHR reflects where fat is stored on your body, not just how much you carry overall.

How it works

You enter your biological sex, waist circumference (measured at the navel), and hip circumference (measured at the widest point of the hips and buttocks). The calculator divides waist by hip to produce your WHR to two decimal places, then applies the World Health Organisation's 2008 sex-specific cut-offs: substantially increased cardiometabolic risk is defined as WHR ≥ 0.90 in men and WHR ≥ 0.85 in women. A shape descriptor (apple or pear) provides additional plain-language context.

Tips for an accurate result

• 1WHR complements BMI — use both — BMI measures total weight relative to height but cannot distinguish where fat is distributed. Two people with identical BMIs can have very different waist-to-hip ratios and, therefore, different cardiometabolic risk profiles. Checking both gives a fuller picture.
• 2Waist circumference alone is also informative — Absolute waist size matters independently. The NHS advises that a waist above 88 cm (35 in) in women or 102 cm (40 in) in men signals substantially increased metabolic risk, regardless of hip size or WHR.
• 3Even modest reductions in waist circumference help — Losing 5–10 % of body weight through a balanced diet and regular physical activity — particularly aerobic exercise — preferentially reduces visceral abdominal fat, which is the fat most strongly linked to heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
• 4Measure at consistent conditions — Body measurements shift slightly through the day. For comparable tracking over time, measure at the same time — ideally in the morning before eating — and wear similar (minimal) clothing.
• 5Speak to your GP if your result is in the high-risk range — A WHR in the substantially increased risk category warrants a conversation with your doctor, who can check blood pressure, fasting glucose, and cholesterol alongside your measurements.