| Men | Women | Health Risk |
|---|---|---|
| Below 0.95 | Below 0.80 | Reduced |
| 0.96 - 1.0 | 0.81 - 0.85 | Elevated |
| Above 1.0 | Above 0.85 | High |
Waist-to-hip is a ratio utilized to screen people and predict risks of developing cardiovascular disease and metabolic diseases such as diabetes. Some studies have even determined that it may be more accurate than utilizing Body Mass Index (BMI) when making such predictions.
Since it only utilizes two measurements to determine health risks, waist-to-hip ratio faces some of the same criticism as utilizing BMI, and should only be used as a screening tool.
We will demonstrate how the calculator works with a simple example:
A female would like to know her waist-to-hip ratio. According to her measurements, her waist circumference is 89cm and her hip circumference is 104cm.
WHR = waist circumference / hip circumference = 89 cm / 104 cm = 0.86
Based on her measurements, the subject would be at a high risk of developing certain diseases.
For additional information, we recommend visiting the World Health Organization (WHO) website. There you will be able to find a comprehensive report that reviewed the usefulness of waist circumference and waist–hip ratio measures as predictors of diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and hypertension.