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Waist to Height Ratio Calculator


What is waist-height ratio?
The Waist-to-Height Ratio (WHtR) is a simple, yet effective, health metric used to measure body fat distribution and assess obesity-related health risks. Men and women should keep their waist circumference, no more than half their height. A ratio of 0.5 or lower is often considered healthy, indicating that your waist circumference is less than half your height.

Waist to height ratio can be obtained by dividing waist size by height:
Waist-to-Height Ratio = Waist circumference​ / Height

Use Medindia's Waist to Height Ratio Calculator to assess your health risk related to body weight. By entering your waist measurement and height, the calculator categorizes your body weight into one of four categories:
  • Underweight
  • Healthy weight
  • Overweight
  • Obese

Waist to Height Ratio

Gender*  
Height*  cm   (or)  
   
*
     
* Required
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How to measure waist-height ratio

  • Place the tape measure directly on your skin.
  • Measure your waist by placing the tape horizontally halfway between your lowest rib and the top of your hipbone.
  • Breathe out normally and take the measurement.
  • Hold the tape lightly so as to not compress your skin.
  • Measure your correct height by standing erect.
Waist Circumference is considered a risk factor for heart disease, irrespective of height and build, in the following cases:
  • Men: Over 94 cm (approx. 37 inches)
  • Women: Over 80 cm (approx. 31.5 inches)
For a person with a height of 1.7 meters or 170 cms and a waist circumference of 0.8 meters or 80 cms, the waist-to-height ratio would be approximately 0.47. This is below the threshold of 0.5, indicating that this individual's waist circumference is less than half of their height, which is often considered a healthy ratio in terms of obesity and related health risks.

This metric is praised for its simplicity, as it is an easy tool that can be used by both professionals and the general public in assessing health risks associated with obesity such as heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and hypertension(1 Trusted Source
Waist to height ratio is a simple and effective obesity screening tool for cardiovascular risk factors: Analysis of data from the British National Diet And Nutrition Survey of adults aged 19-64 years

Go to source
).

Do remember not to confuse waist to height ratio with the 'Waist to Hip Ratio' which is used to measure body fat distribution. Both, however, can be used to screen possible health problems. Waist circumference has a direct correlation with the risk of developing heart disease, because it measures the critical levels of fat accumulated between internal organs and the torso, that is, visceral fat. Visceral fat is directly connected to strokes and heart disease. Greater the waist circumference, the higher the morbidity and mortality from heart disease, diabetes, stroke and hypertension.

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Interesting Top Ten Facts on Waist to Height Ratio

  1. It is important to remember that while waist to height ratio calculator is useful but it should be used in conjunction with other health measurements and professional medical advice.
  2. Experts claim that the waist height ratio is a much more accurate measurement of weight than the tried and tested Body Mass Index (BMI)(2 Trusted Source
    Waist-to-height ratio is a better screening tool than waist circumference and BMI for adult cardiometabolic risk factors: systematic review and meta-analysis

    Go to source
    ).
  3. Waist-Height Ratio is a good early assessment tool for measuring obesity and its associated risks.
  4. Apple shaped bodies are those with bigger waists and excess weight around the abdomen. They carry excess abdominal fat (close to the heart, liver and kidneys) and is therefore at far greater health risk.
  5. Pear shaped body is one that carries more weight around the hips with a narrower waist A pear shaped body is believed to have reduced risk of diabetes, heart disease and other metabolic complications.
  6. If you can keep your waist circumference to less than half of your height, you will reduce your risk for stroke, heart disease and diabetes.
  7. For people under 40, a waist to height ratio of over 0.5 can be critical, while for people between 40 and 50 years of age, the critical value is between 0.5 and 0.6. For people over 50 the critical value begins at 0.6.
  8. Your waist measurements are the most accurate just after you wake up from 7-8 hours of sleep.
  9. The waist-height ratio is equally valid for children and adults, irrespective of age, although the parameters for waist circumference, height and waist-height ratio could vary between different race and ethnicity.
  10. India ranks No.1 worldwide in diabetes incidence. Thus, in India, the Waist-Height Ratio can act as a perfect indicator to assess Risk of Heart disease.

  • 1. Waist to height ratio is a simple and effective obesity screening tool for cardiovascular risk factors: Analysis of data from the British National Diet And Nutrition Survey of adults aged 19-64 years
    (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20054212/)
  • 2. Waist-to-height ratio is a better screening tool than waist circumference and BMI for adult cardiometabolic risk factors: systematic review and meta-analysis
    (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22106927/)
  • 3. Waist to Height Ratio Calculator
    (http://www.healthyweightforum.org/eng/calculators/waist-height-ratio/)
  • 4. Waist-to-height ratio as a screening tool for obesity and cardiometabolic risk
    (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5118501/)

Post a Comment

Comments should be on the topic and should not be abusive. The editorial team reserves the right to review and moderate the comments posted on the site.

Comments

Boombeno1

I'm female, 5'7, 147lbs and my waist is 26 inches and it tells me I'm underweight? Idk man, according to Google at the minimum my weight should be 104lbs and max 149lbs, considering I'm on the heavier side of being a healthy weight according to Google am I really under weight? Just cause of my waist size? Is 26 inches that bad for my height and weight??

mayurika_tripathy92

I am 32, female, waist at 36, weight at 66kgs. 5 feet tall. No change in medical history. Gained 16 kgs in less than 7 months. Waist size increased by 8 inches in 6 months. No change in diet. Do I need to worry?

loverosepink09

My height is 4ft and 8 1/2 inches but my waist size is 40 or 41 not sure but people keep calling me fat and it's making me want to starve myself am I really fat?

salvador

If I'm 5'2" and my waist size is 42" am I really that fat or is my belly big for my height? My weight is 70 kg

julian_vickers

Are you skinny people sure you're measuring your waist? You can Google it, but the measurement should be slightly above your belly button.



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