Waist-to-Hip Ratio Calculator
Calculate your Waist-to-Hip Ratio (WHR) — a clinically validated measure of abdominal obesity and cardiovascular risk. Enter your waist and hip measurements in centimetres for instant WHO risk classification by sex. Free and private.
Key Capabilities
WHO sex-specific thresholds applied
Uses World Health Organization evidence-based WHR thresholds separately for men and women — recognising that identical ratios carry different risk implications by sex.
Three-tier risk: Low, Moderate, High
Results are classified into Low, Moderate, or High abdominal obesity risk, giving actionable clinical context rather than a raw number alone.
Built-in measurement guidance
Instructions for correct tape placement — waist at the narrowest point, hip at the widest point — are shown alongside the input fields so first-time users measure accurately without guesswork.
How to Use
Measure your waist at the narrowest point
Stand relaxed, breathe out normally, and measure the circumference at the narrowest part between your lower ribs and navel. Do not pull the tape tight.
Measure your hip at the widest point
Measure around the widest part of your buttocks, keeping the tape parallel to the floor throughout.
Enter measurements and select sex
Enter both values in centimetres and select your sex. The WHR and WHO risk classification — Low, Moderate, or High — appear instantly.
Common Use Cases
- Patients with normal BMI but central fatA person whose BMI is in the normal range but who carries central abdominal fat uses WHR to detect elevated metabolic syndrome risk that BMI alone misses, prompting an earlier GP conversation.
- Endocrinologists screening for insulin resistanceAn endocrinologist asks patients to self-measure and enter their WHR before a consultation to screen for abdominal adiposity, which correlates strongly with insulin resistance and Type 2 diabetes risk.
- Public health nurses at community screeningsA community nurse at a health fair gives attendees an immediate WHR risk classification after taking tape measurements, triggering referrals for borderline and high-risk results.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does waist-to-hip ratio measure?
WHR measures the distribution of body fat. A higher ratio indicates more fat stored around the abdomen (apple shape), which is strongly associated with cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome compared to fat stored around the hips (pear shape).
What are the WHO WHR thresholds?
For men: Low risk <0.90, Moderate risk 0.90–0.95, High risk >0.95. For women: Low risk <0.80, Moderate risk 0.80–0.85, High risk >0.85. These thresholds are from the World Health Organization (WHO) expert consultation on waist circumference and waist-hip ratio.
Where should I measure waist and hip circumference?
Waist: measure at the narrowest point between your lower ribs and navel, or midway between the two if there is no obvious narrowing. Hip: measure at the widest point around the buttocks. Keep the tape parallel to the floor and breathe normally — do not pull it tight.
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