Waist-to-height and waist-to-hip ratio calculator
Waist-to-height ratio is your waist measurement divided by your height. Below 0.5, belly fat does not raise your health risk. The calculator works it out, adds your waist-to-hip ratio and checks your waist against the WHO cut-offs.
BMI shows how much you weigh but not where the fat is. Fat around the internal organs is more closely linked with type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease than fat under the skin of the hips, and a tape measure picks it up better than scales do.
In a meta-analysis by Ashwell et al. (2012) covering more than 300,000 adults, waist-to-height ratio predicted these risks better than either BMI or waist circumference alone. NICE in the UK added it to its obesity guideline with a simple rule: keep your waist to less than half your height.
How it works
- Measure your waist after breathing out, midway between your lowest rib and the top of your hip bone; measure your hips at their widest point.
- Enter your sex, height and measurements. The hip measurement is optional: the main figure is the ratio to height.
- A ratio of 0.5 or more is a reason to have your blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol checked by a doctor, not a diagnosis.
Where the cut-offs come from
The waist-to-height scale is the one NICE uses: below 0.5, no increased risk; 0.5 to 0.59, increased risk; 0.6 or more, high risk. The same cut-off applies to men and women.
Waist-to-hip ratio and waist circumference follow the 2008 WHO expert consultation report. The risk of metabolic complications is substantially increased at a waist-to-hip ratio of 0.90 or more in men and 0.85 or more in women. By waist circumference, risk is increased above 94 cm in men and 80 cm in women, and substantially increased above 102 cm and 88 cm.
| Measure | Cut-off |
|---|---|
| Waist-to-height ratio | 0.5 — increased risk, 0.6 — high risk |
| Waist-to-hip ratio | men — 0.90, women — 0.85 |
| Waist circumference, men | over 94 cm — increased, over 102 cm — substantially increased |
| Waist circumference, women | over 80 cm — increased, over 88 cm — substantially increased |
Frequently asked questions
- How do I measure my waist correctly?
- Standing, after a relaxed breath out, with the tape parallel to the floor, midway between your lowest rib and the top of your hip bone. Do not suck in your stomach or pull the tape tight.
- Which is better: waist-to-height or waist-to-hip ratio?
- Waist-to-height ratio: it has one cut-off for everyone, it is easier to measure, and in the Ashwell et al. meta-analysis it predicted risk more accurately. Waist-to-hip ratio is useful alongside it.
- What should I do if my ratio is above 0.5?
- Have your blood pressure, blood sugar and blood lipids checked by your doctor. If you are losing weight, repeat the measurement every few weeks: your waist is a useful guide alongside the scales.
Further reading
- Visceral fat: why it matters and how to measure it
- The scale is steady but your waist is shrinking
- Body fat calculator
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This calculator gives an estimate for general information. It is not medical advice, a diagnosis, or a prescription for treatment or a diet, and it does not replace a consultation with your doctor. If you have a health condition, are pregnant, take medication, or follow a diet prescribed to you, decisions about food belong with your doctor.