Waist-to-Hip and Waist-to-Height Ratio: Better Than BMI?
October 21, 2026
Waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) divides waist circumference by hip circumference. Waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) divides waist circumference by height. Both capture where body fat is stored, which BMI cannot. The World Health Organization defines abdominal obesity as a WHR above 0.90 for men and 0.85 for women, and many researchers use a WHtR of 0.5 as a simple threshold: keep your waist under half your height.
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Open the Body Measurement Tracker →How to Measure and Calculate
Measure your waist at the narrowest point between ribs and hips, or at the level of the navel if there is no clear narrowing, after a normal exhale. Measure hips at the widest part of the buttocks. Use the same units for all measurements.
Example: waist 86 cm, hips 100 cm, height 175 cm. WHR = 86 ÷ 100 = 0.86. WHtR = 86 ÷ 175 = 0.49. By the WHtR rule of thumb, this person is under the 0.5 threshold.
Common Cutoffs
The thresholds below are general screening guides and do not diagnose anything. Different organizations use slightly different values, and ethnicity affects risk at a given waist size.
| Measure | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| WHR: elevated risk (WHO) | above 0.90 | above 0.85 |
| WHtR: general guideline | keep below 0.5 | keep below 0.5 |
| Waist circumference (common cutoff) | above 102 cm (40 in) | above 88 cm (35 in) |
What They Tell You That BMI Doesn't
BMI treats a kilogram of muscle the same as a kilogram of fat and ignores fat distribution. Fat stored around the abdomen (visceral fat) is more strongly linked to cardiometabolic risk than fat stored on the hips and thighs. Waist-based ratios pick up that difference.
Ratios are not perfect either. Measurement error of a centimeter or two can shift the result, and very tall or short people may be misclassified. Use them alongside BMI, blood pressure, and blood tests rather than instead of them.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a healthy waist-to-hip ratio?
The WHO considers a WHR above 0.90 for men and 0.85 for women to indicate abdominal obesity and elevated risk.
What does 'keep your waist less than half your height' mean?
It is the WHtR rule of thumb. If your waist in centimeters divided by your height in centimeters is below 0.5, risk is generally lower.
Is waist-to-height ratio better than BMI?
Several studies find it predicts cardiometabolic risk about as well or better, partly because it accounts for fat distribution. It is a screening tool, not a diagnosis.
Where exactly should I measure my waist?
At the narrowest point of the torso or level with the navel, after exhaling normally, with the tape snug but not compressing the skin.