Key facts
- Waist measurement divided by hip measurement.
- Reflects where you store fat.
- Higher ratios link to greater health risk.
- Simple to measure with a tape.
Waist-to-hip ratio captures something weight and BMI miss: where your body stores fat. Fat carried around the abdomen (an 'apple' shape, higher ratio) is more strongly linked to metabolic and cardiovascular risk than fat carried around the hips and thighs (a 'pear' shape, lower ratio).
It's calculated simply by dividing your waist measurement by your hip measurement. As a quick, equipment-free health screen it can be more informative than BMI, though it's still a rough indicator — body fat percentage and overall health markers give a fuller picture.
Frequently asked questions
What is a healthy waist-to-hip ratio?
Generally, below about 0.9 for men and 0.85 for women is associated with lower health risk, though guidelines vary. Higher ratios indicate more abdominal fat.
Is waist-to-hip ratio better than BMI?
It adds useful information about fat distribution that BMI ignores. Used together with other measures, it gives a better sense of health risk.
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