What is waist-to-hip ratio?
Waist-to-hip ratio divides your waist circumference by your hip circumference. It captures where your body stores fat rather than how much you weigh, which is why the World Health Organization uses it as a quick screening tool for health risk. A higher ratio means more abdominal (visceral) fat, which is more strongly associated with heart disease and type 2 diabetes than fat stored around the hips and thighs.
How to measure your waist and hips
Accurate measurements matter. Use a soft tape measure, stand relaxed, and don't pull the tape tight. Measure your waist at the narrowest point - usually just above the belly button - at the end of a normal breath out. Measure your hips at the widest point of your buttocks. Take each measurement twice and use the average.
WHR health-risk categories
The table below shows the World Health Organization's waist-to-hip ratio thresholds for health risk. The cut-offs differ between men and women because of natural differences in fat distribution.
| Risk | 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 |
Apple vs pear body-fat distribution
A higher WHR describes an 'apple' shape, where fat collects around the abdomen. A lower WHR describes a 'pear' shape, with fat carried around the hips and thighs. Apple-shaped fat distribution carries greater health risk because visceral fat surrounds the organs, whereas pear-shaped fat is largely subcutaneous and metabolically less harmful.
WHR vs BMI
BMI tells you about your weight relative to height but says nothing about where fat sits. Two people with the same BMI can have very different health profiles depending on their waist-to-hip ratio. Because WHR captures fat distribution, it often predicts cardiometabolic risk better than BMI alone - which is why many clinicians look at both. To lower a high WHR, focus on reducing overall body fat through a modest calorie deficit, regular activity and strength training.
WHR vs waist circumference vs BMI
Waist-to-hip ratio, waist circumference and BMI each tell you something different, and they work best together. BMI gauges overall weight relative to height but can't see fat distribution. Waist circumference on its own is a strong, simple marker of abdominal fat - many guidelines flag risk above 94 cm (37 in) for men and 80 cm (31.5 in) for women. Waist-to-hip ratio adds context by comparing your waist to your hips, which helps account for differences in frame size.
If you only track one number, waist circumference is the easiest to monitor at home. But WHR is especially useful if you have a larger or smaller frame, because dividing by your hip measurement normalises for build. Used alongside BMI, the two give a fuller picture of health risk than either alone.