Waist-to-Hip Ratio Calculator

Calculate your waist-to-hip ratio and find out your cardiovascular risk level according to WHO guidelines.

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WHO Formulas

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Low Risk≤0.90≤0.80
Moderate Risk0.91–0.950.81–0.85
High Risk0.96–1.000.86–0.90
Very High Risk>1.00>0.90

How to use?

  1. 1
    Measure waist and hipsMeasure waist at the narrowest point (above the navel) and hips at the widest point. Stand relaxed and breathe normally.
  2. 2
    Enter measurementsEnter waist and hip circumferences in centimetres and select your gender.
  3. 3
    Read your risk levelYour WHR value and cardiovascular risk category (low / moderate / high / very high) appear instantly.

FAQ

What is waist-to-hip ratio?
WHR is waist circumference divided by hip circumference. It is a better predictor of cardiovascular disease risk than BMI alone, because abdominal (visceral) fat is more metabolically active than subcutaneous fat elsewhere.
What are the WHO thresholds?
WHO guidelines: Low risk — men ≤0.90, women ≤0.80; Moderate — men 0.91–0.95, women 0.81–0.85; High — men 0.96–1.00, women 0.86–0.90; Very high — men >1.00, women >0.90.
Why does gender matter for WHR?
Men and women naturally distribute fat differently. Women typically have wider hips relative to waist (gynoid pattern), so the same WHR value carries different risk implications for each gender. That is why WHO uses separate thresholds.

Waist-to-Hip Ratio and Cardiovascular Risk

The Waist-to-Hip Ratio (WHR) is calculated by dividing waist circumference by hip circumference. It is widely used as a simple indicator of abdominal obesity and the associated cardiovascular and metabolic risk.

Why Abdominal Fat Matters

Visceral fat (stored around internal organs in the abdominal cavity) releases inflammatory substances and disrupts hormone balance, raising the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke. WHR captures this risk better than BMI, which cannot distinguish fat distribution.

WHO Risk Categories

RiskMenWomen
Low≤0.90≤0.80
Moderate0.91–0.950.81–0.85
High0.96–1.000.86–0.90
Very High>1.00>0.90

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