See how your waist and hip measurements compare, and what your ratio means for long-term health risk.
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Two people can have the exact same weight and BMI, yet carry very different health risks depending on where that weight sits. Waist to hip ratio (WHR) is a simple measurement that captures this difference.
WHR is calculated by dividing your waist circumference by your hip circumference. It reflects body shape, specifically how much fat is concentrated around your abdomen (an "apple" shape) versus your hips and thighs (a "pear" shape). Research consistently links abdominal fat more closely to metabolic and cardiovascular risk than fat stored elsewhere on the body.
According to World Health Organization guidance, abdominal obesity is generally defined as a WHR above 0.90 for men or above 0.85 for women. Ratios below these thresholds are associated with lower relative risk, though WHR is one indicator among several, not a standalone diagnosis.
BMI looks only at total weight relative to height, it can't distinguish muscle from fat, or tell you where fat is distributed. Two people with identical BMI can have very different WHR, and therefore different metabolic risk profiles. For a fuller picture, WHR works well alongside, not instead of, BMI.
Check your BMI Calculator and Body Fat % Calculator for a more complete view of your body composition, and if abdominal fat is a focus area, our Calorie & TDEE Calculator in Nutrition can help structure a sustainable calorie target.
Generally, below 0.90 for men and below 0.85 for women is considered lower risk, per WHO guidance. Lower ratios within a healthy range are generally more favorable.
They measure different things. WHR reflects fat distribution and has been linked in some research to cardiovascular risk more specifically than BMI, but neither replaces a full clinical assessment.
Yes, a combination of a modest calorie deficit, regular physical activity, and strength training can reduce abdominal fat over time, which lowers WHR. Spot-reduction of fat from one area alone is not well supported by research.
Body fat distribution tends to shift toward the abdomen with age for many people, particularly after menopause in women, so WHR can rise even without significant weight gain.