Waist-to-Hip Ratio Calculator
WHR measures how much fat you store around your abdomen compared to your hips. Abdominal fat is more strongly linked to cardiovascular and metabolic disease risk than weight alone.
This waist-to-hip ratio calculator measures how your body fat is distributed by comparing your waist measurement with your hip measurement. It matters because where you carry fat can be more telling than how much you weigh. Fat stored around the abdomen, known as visceral fat, sits close to your organs and carries a higher risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes than fat carried on the hips and thighs. The World Health Organization uses this ratio as a recognised risk marker.
It is for anyone who wants a clearer health picture than the scale or BMI alone can give, and it is especially relevant across Asia, where a slim body can still hide a high level of abdominal fat. If your BMI looks normal but your waistband keeps getting tighter, this is a useful check.
To interpret your result, compare it against the risk bands shown after you calculate. In general, higher ratios signal more abdominal fat and higher risk, and the healthy thresholds differ for men and women. Measure at the narrowest part of your waist and the widest part of your hips for an accurate reading. If your ratio sits in a raised band, losing even a little abdominal fat through a modest calorie deficit and regular activity can improve it. To understand the numbers in depth, read our full waist-to-hip ratio guide.
Enter Your Measurements
📏 Your Waist-to-Hip Ratio
⚚️ Health disclaimer: This calculator gives general estimates for educational purposes only. It is not medical advice and is not a substitute for guidance from a qualified doctor or dietitian. Results are based on general formulas and population averages, and individual needs vary. If you have any health concerns, or before changing your diet, exercise, or lifestyle, please speak with a healthcare professional.
How to Measure Correctly
Measure your waist
Find the narrowest point of your torso, typically just above the navel and below the ribcage. Breathe out gently and measure. Do not hold your breath in.
Measure your hips
Measure at the widest part of your hips and buttocks. Keep the tape horizontal and parallel to the floor. Do not pull the tape tight.
Read your result
Your WHR and health risk category are shown against WHO standards and Asian-specific thresholds.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is waist-to-hip ratio?
WHR is your waist circumference divided by your hip circumference. It measures how much fat is stored around your abdomen versus your hips. Abdominal fat is more dangerous than hip or thigh fat because it surrounds internal organs and is associated with metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
What is a healthy WHR?
WHO guidelines define healthy WHR as below 0.90 for men and below 0.85 for women. For Asian populations, health risk may begin at lower values: around 0.85 for men and 0.80 for women, reflecting differences in body fat distribution at lower overall weights.
Is WHR better than BMI?
They measure different things. BMI measures overall mass relative to height. WHR specifically measures central fat distribution, which is a better predictor of cardiovascular and diabetes risk. Using both together gives a more complete picture of health risk.
Does ethnicity affect WHR thresholds?
Yes. Asian populations tend to accumulate visceral (internal abdominal) fat at lower overall weight compared to Caucasian populations. Some Asian health guidelines use lower WHR thresholds to flag elevated risk earlier. This calculator shows both WHO standard and Asian-context references.
What your waist-to-hip ratio tells you
Your waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) compares the measurement around your waist to the measurement around your hips. It is a simple way to estimate where your body stores fat. Fat carried around the middle is more closely linked to health risks than fat carried around the hips and thighs, which is why this ratio can add information that weight or BMI alone does not show.
For Asian adults, the commonly used thresholds for higher central-fat risk are a WHR of 0.90 or above for men and 0.85 or above for women. Waist size on its own is also informative: a waist of 90cm or more for men, or 80cm or more for women, is generally considered the point where central fat starts to raise risk in Asian populations. These cut-offs are lower than the ones used for Western populations, because Asians tend to carry more central fat at a given size.
Measure it well, and keep it in proportion
Small measuring mistakes change the result, so measure over bare skin where possible, keep the tape snug but not tight, and breathe normally. This ratio is a screening signal, not a diagnosis, and no single number captures your health. If your result sits above these ranges, it is worth a conversation with your doctor rather than a cause for worry. Build, posture, and recent meals can all nudge the figure.
Sources: WHO Asia-Pacific guidance; Hong Kong Centre for Health Protection; Singapore population studies.