Body-fat distribution — waist-to-hip and waist-to-height ratios
Waist circumference
Hip circumference
Height
Sex
Male
Female
Enter waist, hip and height, and select sex
Evidence
Original publication
Ashwell M, Gunn P, Gibson S. Waist-to-height ratio is a better screening tool than waist circumference and BMI for adult cardiometabolic risk factors: systematic review and meta-analysis. Across 31 studies WHtR outperformed BMI and waist circumference for identifying hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidaemia, supporting a simple boundary value of 0.5.
Obesity Reviews, 2012
Open source
Guideline
WHO expert consultation (2008) waist-to-hip ratio cut-offs for substantially increased risk: ≥ 0.90 in men and ≥ 0.85 in women. NICE recommends using waist-to-height ratio alongside BMI, with 0.5 as the action point and ≥ 0.6 indicating substantially increased health risk. Measure the waist midway between the lowest rib and the iliac crest, and the hip at the widest point, with the tape snug and horizontal. These indices are less validated in pregnancy, marked skeletal deformity, and some ethnic groups.
Last reviewed: 2026-09
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