Waist-to-Hip Ratio (WHR)
Calculate waist-to-hip ratio, a WHO-endorsed indicator of abdominal obesity and cardiovascular risk.
Results
What is it?
The Waist-to-Hip Ratio (WHR) is a WHO-endorsed anthropometric measure that compares waist circumference to hip circumference. It identifies abdominal (central) obesity, a key independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome.
How to use
Enter your waist circumference (at the narrowest point, typically at the navel) and hip circumference (at the widest point of the buttocks), both in the same unit. WHR = waist ÷ hip.
Example scenario
A woman with waist 80 cm and hips 100 cm has WHR = 0.800. Since this is below the WHO high-risk threshold of 0.85 for females, her abdominal fat distribution is in the low-risk zone.
Pro tip
WHO defines elevated cardiovascular risk as WHR > 0.90 for males and > 0.85 for females. WHR captures visceral fat risk that BMI misses — a person with a normal BMI can still have a high WHR indicating dangerous abdominal fat distribution.