On this page
Waist-to-Hip Ratio and Health Risk
Formula
Waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) is an important indicator of health risk related to body fat distribution. Abdominal fat (apple shape) is more strongly associated with cardiovascular disease and diabetes than hip fat (pear shape).
According to the WHO, a WHR above 0.90 for men or 0.85 for women indicates substantially increased risk of metabolic complications.
Common use cases:
- Assessing cardiovascular disease risk
- Tracking body fat distribution changes
- Complementing BMI with fat distribution data
Frequently Asked Questions
Maria Gonzalez
Registered Dietitian, RD, MPH
Maria is a Registered Dietitian with a Master's in Public Health. She focuses on evidence-based nutrition assessment tools including BMI, calorie calculations, and body composition analysis.
Was this calculator helpful?
People Also Use
BMI Calculator
Calculate your Body Mass Index (BMI) instantly with our free calculator. Enter your height and weight to find your BMI category and health range.
Kids BMI
Calculate your child's BMI and percentile ranking using age and sex-specific CDC growth charts for ages 2-20.
Calorie Calculator
Estimate your daily calorie needs for weight loss, maintenance, or gain based on age, sex, height, weight, and activity level.
BMR Calculator
Calculate your Basal Metabolic Rate using the Mifflin-St Jeor equation to find how many calories your body burns at rest.
TDEE Calculator
Calculate your Total Daily Energy Expenditure based on BMR and activity level to plan your diet and fitness goals.
Macro Calculator
Calculate your daily macronutrient targets for protein, carbs, and fat based on your calorie goal and diet type.
Calorie Deficit
Calculate your daily calorie deficit needed to reach your goal weight within your desired timeframe.
Weight Loss
Estimate how long it will take to reach your goal weight based on your TDEE and chosen weekly loss rate.