Waist to Hip Ratio Calculator

How do you calculate waist-to-hip ratio?

Waist-to-hip ratio = waist circumference ÷ hip circumference. Use the same unit for both (centimetres or inches — the ratio is unaffected). Measure the waist at its narrowest point, usually between the bottom rib and the top of the hip bone, just above the navel; measure the hips at their fullest point. Stand straight, measure at the end of a normal exhale, tape snug but not tight.

Health-risk bands (WHO)

The WHO cut-offs are: for women, below 0.80 is low risk, 0.80–0.85 moderate, above 0.85 high; for men, below 0.90 is low, 0.90–1.00 moderate, above 1.00 high. WHR reflects fat distribution, and waist fat (visceral fat) tracks metabolic disease more strongly than total body weight — which is why it still matters for people at a normal weight.

What does a 0.7 waist-to-hip ratio mean?

A ratio near 0.7 is the value most consistently rated attractive for women in cross-cultural preference research, with roughly 0.9 as the male counterpart. That research measures aesthetic preference statistics — not a health standard and not a target. The healthy band (under 0.80 for women) is far wider than the aesthetic number, so treat 0.7 as a reference point rather than a threshold you must hit.

Can you change your WHR?

Hip and pelvic width are skeletal and fixed; waist circumference is not. Losing body fat typically takes it off the abdomen first (especially in men), so WHR drops noticeably with fat loss. Targeted "waist-shrinking" exercise does not exist — spot reduction does not work — but strengthening the transverse abdominis and improving posture makes a waist look narrower.