Waist to Hip Ratio Calculator
The WHO’s own measure of fat distribution and metabolic risk.
Measurements
Your ratio
Apples, pears, and what the shape means
Waist-to-hip ratio divides waist circumference by hip circumference, describing where the body stores fat rather than how much there is. The WHO cut-points for substantially increased risk are0.90 for men and 0.85 for women, and the difference reflects genuinely different typical fat distribution rather than a different standard.
The familiar shorthand is apples and pears. Central or android distribution — weight around the middle, a higher ratio — is associated with considerably greater cardiometabolic risk, because visceral fat around the organs is metabolically active in ways subcutaneous fat is not. Peripheral or gynoid distribution, carrying weight on hips and thighs, is associated with lower risk at the same total body fat.
Technique determines whether the number means anything. Measure the waist at the midpoint between the lowest rib and the top of the hip bone, and the hips at the widest point of the buttocks, both with the tape horizontal and snug. Measure at the end of a normal exhale, standing with feet together. Waist-to-height ratio is increasingly preferred because it requires only one measurement and so has fewer ways to go wrong.
Medical disclaimer. This calculator is for general information and education only. It is not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and not a substitute for professional care. Ratios shift during pregnancy and are not interpreted the same way, and this is a population-level screening measure rather than an individual diagnosis.Speak to a doctor or another qualified clinician about any health decision.Last reviewed .
Frequently asked questions
What is a healthy waist to hip ratio?
The WHO puts substantially increased risk at 0.90 or above for men and 0.85 or above for women. Below roughly 0.85 for men and 0.80 for women is generally considered low risk.
Why do men and women have different thresholds?
Because typical fat distribution genuinely differs. Women generally carry proportionally more fat on hips and thighs, producing lower ratios at equivalent risk, so a single threshold would misclassify one sex or the other.
How do I measure my hips correctly?
At the widest point of the buttocks, with the tape horizontal all the way round and just touching the skin without compressing it. Stand with your feet together — a wider stance changes the reading.
Is waist to hip better than waist to height?
Waist-to-height is increasingly preferred, mainly because it needs one measurement instead of two and so has fewer opportunities for error. Waist-to-hip remains widely used and is the measure WHO guidance is built around.
Can exercise change my ratio?
Fat distribution is substantially genetic, but overall fat loss reduces waist circumference and therefore the ratio. Targeted exercise cannot preferentially remove fat from one area — spot reduction does not work — though building muscle changes overall shape.