Waist-to-hip ratio is your waist measurement divided by your hip measurement. The World Health Organization marks a substantially increased risk of metabolic complications — such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease — at a ratio of 0.90 or more for men and 0.85 or more for women. A woman with a 32-inch waist and 40-inch hips has a ratio of 0.80.
Enter your sex and both measurements to see your ratio, which side of the WHO line you are on, and the waist at which you would cross it.
Worked example
Sex: FemaleWaist: 32 inHips: 40 in
Waist-to-hip ratio: 0.80 Below the WHO risk line
A 32-inch waist and 40-inch hips give a ratio of 0.80, below the WHO line of 0.85 for women. At those hips, the line is crossed at a waist of 34 inches.
Open this example in the calculator →How to use the Waist-to-Hip Ratio Calculator
- Choose your sex and US or metric units.
- Measure your waist midway between your lowest rib and the top of your hip bone, after breathing out.
- Measure your hips around the widest part of your buttocks.
- Read your ratio and how it compares with the WHO risk line.
Waist-to-hip ratio chart
| Below the WHO line | Substantially increased risk | |
|---|---|---|
| Women | Below 0.85 | 0.85 or more |
| Men | Below 0.90 | 0.90 or more |
These are the cut-offs of the WHO's 2008 expert consultation on waist circumference and waist–hip ratio. The same report gives waist-only thresholds: 94 cm (37 in) and 102 cm (40 in) for men, 80 cm (31.5 in) and 88 cm (34.6 in) for women.
How to measure waist and hips
- Waist: midway between the bottom of your lowest rib and the top of your hip bone, standing, at the end of a normal breath out.
- Hips: around the widest part of the buttocks, feet together.
- Keep the tape level and snug without compressing the skin, and use the same units for both.
Apple or pear?
A high ratio means weight is carried around the middle ("apple"), a low one on the hips and thighs ("pear"). The difference matters because abdominal fat — especially the visceral fat around the organs — is metabolically active and drives insulin resistance, while fat on the hips and thighs is relatively harmless and may even be protective. Men tend toward the apple pattern; women tend toward the pear pattern until menopause, when fat shifts to the waist.
Waist-to-hip or waist-to-height?
Both track abdominal fat better than BMI. Waist-to-hip ratio has a long research record and predicts heart attacks well, but it can mislead when someone loses weight from both waist and hips, and it needs two measurements. Waist-to-height ratio needs only the waist, adjusts for body size, and uses the same 0.5 boundary for everyone, which is why NICE in the UK now recommends it. Use the waist-to-height ratio calculator for that check.
Frequently asked questions
What is a healthy waist-to-hip ratio?
Below 0.85 for women and below 0.90 for men, according to the WHO. At or above those ratios, the risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease is substantially increased.
How do I calculate my waist-to-hip ratio?
Divide your waist by your hips, both in the same units. A 34-inch waist and 38-inch hips give 34 ÷ 38 = 0.89.
What is the ideal waist-to-hip ratio for a woman?
Below 0.85 by the WHO’s health cut-off. Ratios around 0.7 are often cited as the "hourglass" figure, but that is a matter of appearance, not health.
What is a good waist-to-hip ratio for a man?
Below 0.90. Many healthy men are between 0.85 and 0.90; at 0.90 or more the WHO classes risk as substantially increased.
Is waist-to-hip ratio better than BMI?
For heart disease risk, studies often find it a better predictor than BMI, because it reflects where fat is stored. Using a waist measure together with BMI gives the fullest picture.
Sources
- Waist circumference and waist–hip ratio: report of a WHO expert consultation — World Health Organization
- Overweight and obesity management (NG246), 2025 — National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (UK)
- Ashwell M, Gibson S. Waist-to-height ratio as an indicator of “early health risk”. BMJ Open 2016;6:e010159 — BMJ Open
For general information only — not a diagnosis or a substitute for advice from a doctor. How we calculate.