WHR Calculator: waist-to-hip ratio and health risk calculation

WHR Index Calculator: Waist to Hip Ratio Calculation

WHR = WHR index = waist-hip ratio = waist-to-hip ratio = waist-to-hip ratio = waist-to-hip circumference ratio

What is the purpose of this figure? After all, to determine obesity, we have the BMI index.

The BMI result is quick but inaccurate. This is especially true for athletes. They can have a very high BMI even if they are not obese.

A bodybuilder has a BMI over 30, but he's not obese.

In such a case, the WHR is used to make a more accurate determination.

A separate figure for waist circumference will give an idea of nutritional status and the risks of being overweight.

For women, the waist circumference should be no more than 80 cm.

For men, it should be less than 94 cm.

Women less than 80 cm.
Men less than 94 cm.

Higher numbers for both sexes indicate an increased risk of health complications and disease.

The high risk is especially for waist circumference for women over 94 cm and for men over 102 cm.

WHR is a slightly more accurate calculation. It compares the ratio of waist to hips.

Its calculation is more complicated. It is necessary to find out the girth of the parts in question. Therefore, BMI is a faster method to determine nutritional status. Almost everyone knows their approximate height and weight.

WHR calculation formula:

Waist circumference / hip circumference = WHR index.

The WHR ratio should be no more than 0.95 for men and 0.85 for women.

Example of WHR calculation (values are in centimeters):

Waist circumference 70 cm and hip circumference 85 cm, divide 70 : 85. The result is WHR = 0.8.

Beware of complications with a higher WHR index. There is a risk of developing civilisation diseases such as atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome.

Syndrome X (metabolic syndrome) combines several problems at the same time. Together they threaten health and life.

Metabolic syndrome X includes, for example:

• Type 2 diabetes mellitus - a rise in fasting blood sugar above 5.6 mmol/l
• impaired glucose tolerance
• insulin resistance
• abdominal obesity (abdominal type of obesity)
• hypertension - an increase in blood pressure above 130/80 mmHg
• dyslipidaemia - an increase in the level of fats in the blood
• microalbuminuria - the presence of protein in the urine
• atherosclerosis - corrosion of the arteries
• increased tendency to blood clotting
• smoking
• excess fat intake
• lack of exercise and physical activity
• excess stress and mental strain

Complications of syndrome X are listed in the table below

To quickly determine the risk, it is sufficient to compare the ratio of values by sight.

Waist wider than hips = good outcome
Same waist and hip width = increased risk
Abdomen wider than hips = high risk of complications

Every person has a different body type and a different way of distributing fat. But a wider waist than hips is always a risk.

There are 4 known ways of fat distribution:

1. peripheral
2. the balanced way
3. the central way
4. the risk way

WHR = waist circumference/hip circumference in table

The table shows 4 ways of fat distribution

Where is the waist and hip circumference measured?

The WHO (World Health Organization) lists a complicated way of measuring girths. In practice, a simpler measurement is sufficient:

• the waist is measured approximately 2.5 cm above the navel
• hips at the widest point

For more information, see for example:

• BMI: How to calculate body mass index? Calculator + formula
• Are you familiar with metabolic syndrome and its complications?
• How to prevent cardiovascular disease?
• What is the difference between overweight and obesity?
• Overweight and obesity in children, adolescents and the young. What to do against it?
• Obesity and its consequences on health. It is not just a problem of aesthetics
• Overweight and obesity in adults and children as a risk of complications?