Waist-to-Height Ratio (WHtR)
Calculate waist-to-height ratio, a simple predictor of cardiometabolic risk. A value ≥ 0.5 indicates increased health risk (Ashwell & Hsieh, 2005).
Results
What is it?
The Waist-to-Height Ratio (WHtR) is a simple cardiometabolic risk screening tool popularised by Ashwell & Hsieh (2005). It divides waist circumference by height and uses a universal boundary value of 0.5 — applicable across age, sex, and ethnicity — to flag increased health risk.
How to use
Enter your waist circumference and height in the same unit system. WHtR = waist ÷ height. A result ≥ 0.5 signals increased cardiometabolic risk.
Example scenario
An adult with waist 88 cm and height 175 cm: WHtR = 88 ÷ 175 = 0.503. This just exceeds the 0.5 threshold, indicating mildly increased cardiometabolic risk and a prompt to investigate further.
Pro tip
WHtR outperforms BMI in predicting cardiovascular outcomes in several meta-analyses. The "keep your waist to less than half your height" message works across all populations, making it one of the simplest and most inclusive screening tools available.