The waist-to-height ratio is evaluated by dividing the waist circumference or waist size of a person by the height of the person, and it is used to assess the fat content in the human body. This tutorial explains to you, how to calculate the WHtR.
Online health and fitness calculator which calculates the WHtR (Waist to Height Ratio) of men and women.
Formula Waist to Height Ratio
Waist-to-Height Ratio Chart
For Men
| Ratio less than 35 | Abnormally Slim |
|---|---|
| Ratio 35 to 43 | Extremely slim |
| Ratio 43 to 46 | Slender and Healthy |
| Ratio 46 and 53 | Healthy, Normal, Attractive Weight |
| Ratio 53 to 58 | Overweight |
| Ratio 58 to 63 | Extremely Overweight/Obese |
| Ratio over 63 | Highly Obese |
For Women
| Ratio less than 35 | Abnormally Slim |
|---|---|
| Ratio 35 to 43 | Extremely slim |
| Ratio 42 to 46 | Slender and Healthy |
| Ratio 46 and 49 | Healthy, Normal, Attractive Weight |
| Ratio 49 to 54 | Overweight |
| Ratio 54 to 58 | Extremely Overweight/Obese |
| Ratio over 58 | Highly Obese |
Example of Waist to Height Ratio
Find the waist to height ratio of a men his waist circumference is 36.22 Inch and height is 71.65 Inch?
Given,
Waist circumference = 36.22 Inch Height (92 cm) = 71.65 Inch (182 cm)
Solution:
Substitute the given values in the formula,
WHtR
= ( Waist circumference / Height ) x 100
= 36.22 / 71.65 x 100
= 50.55
Why is the waist to height ratio important?
The waist-to-height ratio is a measure of the distribution of body fat. The higher a person's waist-to-height ratio, the higher their risk of obesity-related cardiovascular disease, as it is a rough estimate of obesity. For more information about body fat, see Body Fat Calculator.
Studies have found that waist-to-height ratio is a good predictor of risk of heart attack, stroke or death, while the link with diabetes has not yet been proven.
Waist to height ratio is an indicator of your risks for obesity, heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and hypertension. It is obtained by dividing waist size by height. Men and women should keep their waist circumference, no more than half their height.
Waist to height ratio should not be confused with the 'Waist to Hip Ratio' which is used to measure body fat distribution. Both, however, can be used to screen possible health problems. Waist circumference has a direct correlation with the risk of developing heart disease, because it measures the critical levels of fat accumulated between internal organs and the torso, that is, visceral fat. Visceral fat is directly connected to strokes and heart disease. Greater the waist circumference, the higher the morbidity and mortality from heart disease, diabetes, stroke and hypertension.
The waist-height ratio indicator is equally valid for children and adults, irrespective of age, although the parameters for waist circumference, height and waist-height ratio could vary between races and ethnicities.
What is your body shape? ‘APPLE’ or ‘PEAR’?
Apple shaped bodies are those with bigger waists and excess weight around the abdomen, whereas a pear shaped body is one that carries more weight around the hips with a narrower waist. ‘Apples’ have more fat in the waist region compared to ‘pears’.
A pear shaped body is believed to reduce risk of diabetes, heart disease and other metabolic complications. On the other hand, an apple shaped person carries excess abdominal fat (close to the heart, liver and kidneys) and is therefore at far greater health risk.
Waist Circumference is considered a risk factor for heart disease, irrespective of height and build, in the following cases:
- Men: Over 94 cm (approximately 37 inches)
- Women: Over 80 cm (approximately 31.5 inches)
How to measure waist-height ratio
- Place the tape measure directly on your skin
- Measure your waist by placing the tape horizontally halfway between your lowest rib and the top of your hipbone
- Breathe out normally and take the measurement.
- Hold the tape lightly so as to not compress your skin
- Measure your correct height by standing erect.
Some Interesting Facts
- Waist-Height Ratio is a good early assessment tool for cardiometabolic risk.
- India ranks No.1 worldwide in diabetes incidence. Thus, in India, the Waist-Height Ratio can act as a perfect indicator to assess heart health risks.
- Experts claim that the waist height ratio is a much more accurate measurement of weight than the tried and tested Body Mass Index (BMI)
- If you can keep your waist circumference to less than half of your height, you will reduce your risk of conditions associated with abdominal fat, such as stroke, heart disease and diabetes(High/low blood sugar).
- For people under 40, a waist to height ratio of over 0.5 can be critical, while for people between 40 and 50 years of age, the critical value is between 0.5 and 0.6. For people over 50 the critical value begins at 0.6.
- Your waist measurements are the most accurate just after you wake up from 7-8 hours of sleep.
References
http://www.healthyweightforum.org/eng/calculators/waist-height-ratio
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5118501
What does my Waist-to-Height value mean?
Excess weight can have a detrimental effect on health in the long term. However, it is important where the body fat accumulates. The accumulation of fat on the abdomen is considered particularly unfavorable, as the fat cells in this location release messenger substances that have an unfavorable effect on the metabolism.
Compared with the body mass index (BMI), the waist-to-height ratio is more informative about whether there may be a risk of cardiovascular disease. This is because BMI has its pitfalls, depending on individual circumstances. For example, someone who is very athletic and muscular may weigh more and thus often have a higher BMI and consequently an increased cardiovascular risk, although the actual risk is likely to be lower. The BMI therefore has little significance in such cases.
To calculate the waist-to-height ratio, the waist circumference (measured approximately at the level of the belly button) is set in relation to the body height. To interpret the WHtR correctly, age must also be taken into account.
To determine the waist circumference, age must be taken into account. In adolescence and between the ages of 40 and 50, the values deviate because stature usually changes again during these periods. From the age of 50, a stable weight usually settles in. Gender plays no role in the evaluation.
You are underweight according to the chart?
The reasons for this can be quite different. If you have health problems and symptoms such as
- constant fatigue,
- concentration problems,
- an increased susceptibility to infections,
- slow wound healing
- or menstrual irregularities (in women)
you should take these signs seriously and seek medical advice. One cause of underweight can be, for example, nutrient deficiency, for which in turn various diseases can be responsible. A blood test will provide information here. An eating disorder or other psychosomatic illnesses can also be behind low body weight.
Your waist-to-height ratio is within the normal range?
Great! Your body fat distribution seems to be harmless to your health. Try to continue to maintain this condition.
Your value is in the elevated range?
You have too much body fat accumulating in the abdominal area. Abdominal fat is a determining factor for various diseases. For example, it leads to greater stress on the cardiovascular system and thus increases your risk of cardiovascular disease. Therefore, try to reduce your weight - preferably with a balanced diet and regular exercise!