Why does the risk category differ between men and women?

WHO risk thresholds account for typical differences in body fat distribution between sexes, women naturally carry more hip and gluteal fat, so a WHR that's low-risk for a woman may indicate higher risk for a man at the same value.

Why does waist-to-hip ratio matter for health risk?

WHR is used as a proxy for abdominal (visceral) fat, which is more strongly linked to cardiovascular and metabolic risk than overall body fat or BMI alone. A higher ratio indicates more fat carried around the waist relative to the hips.

Waist-to-Hip Ratio Calculator

Calculate your waist-to-hip ratio and WHO body-shape risk category.

How this is calculated

WHR = Waist circumference ÷ Hip circumference

Assumptions used in this calculation

Screening tool only: WHR is a screening indicator, not a diagnosis, consult a healthcare professional for a full assessment.

About this calculator

The waist-to-hip ratio calculator finds your WHR from waist and hip measurements, and classifies it against WHO risk thresholds, which differ by gender.

Worked example

Waist 80cm, hip 100cm

Result: WHR 0.8 (low risk)

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Waist-to-Hip Ratio Calculator

About this calculator

Frequently asked questions

Why does the risk category differ between men and women?

Why does waist-to-hip ratio matter for health risk?

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