WHR Index Calculator Waist-to-Hip Ratio Calculator

WHR Index Calculator: Waist-to-hip Ratio

WHR = WHR index = waist-to-hip ratio = ratio of the circumference of the waist to that of the hips.

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

However, although the BMI result can be arrived at quite quickly, it is not completely accurate. This is especially true for athletic people whose activity drives the BMI number up, but who are not obese.

A bodybuilder will have a BMI higher than 30, but is not obese.

In this case, the WHR will be used to make a more accurate determination.

Even a single indication of waist circumference is sufficient to give a picture of the nutritional status and therefore the risks of being overweight.

For women, it is stated that the waist circumference should be no more than 80 cm.

For men, it should be less than 94 cm.

For women, less than 80 cm.
For men, less than 94 cm.

Numbers for both sexes that exceed a given circumference indicate an increase in the risk of health complications and disease. 

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

WHR is therefore a slightly more accurate calculation that compares the waist to hip ratio. 

Its calculation is a bit more complicated, but it is only a matter of knowing the circuits. Therefore, the BMI is taken as a quicker method to find out the nutritional status. After all, almost every person 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 calculation of WHR, values in centimetres: 

Waist circumference 70 cm and hip circumference 85 cm, divide 70 : 85, the result is WHR = 0,8. 

Beware of complications if the WHR index is higher. The risk is the development of civilization diseases such as atherosclerosis, cardiovascular diseases and also metabolic syndrome.

Syndrome X or also metabolic syndrome combines several disease entities. These have a common outcome and that is a threat to health or even life.

Metabolic syndrome X encompasses several technical terms such as:

• type 2 diabetes mellitus - an increase in fasting blood sugar above 5.6 mmol/l,
• impaired glucose tolerance,
• insulin resistance,
• abdominal obesity (abdominal type of obesity),
• hypertension - an increase in the value of blood pressure above 130 / 80 mmHg,
• dyslipidemia - an increase in the level of fats in the blood,
• microalbuminuria - the presence of protein in the urine,
• atherosclerosis - hardening of the arteries,
• increased blood clotting tendency,
• Smoking,
• excess fat intake,
• lack of exercise and physical activity,
• excess stress and psychological burden.

Table: Complications of syndrome X

If you would like to know your risk without calculations, just compare the ratio by eye, so to speak.

Wider hips than waist = good result.
If the width of the waist aligns with the hips, it is necessary to think about the increasing risk.
There is a high risk if the abdomen is wider than the hips.

Of course, every person has a different body type, and everyone's fat distribution is different. But, if the waist is wider than the hips, this is not a satisfactory condition. 

There are 4 ways to distribute fats:

1. peripheral
2. balanced
3. central
4. risky

Table: WHR = waist circumference/hip circumference

Table: 4 ways of fat distribution

Where is the waist and hip circumference measured?

The WHO, that is, the World Health Organization, lists a rather complicated way of measuring girths. However, in practice, a simpler measurement is sufficient:

• The waist is measured approximately 2.5 cm above the navel,
• the flanks at the widest point of the area.

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 young adults. What to do against it?
• Obesity and its health consequences. It is not just a problem of aesthetics
• Overweight and obesity in adults and children as a risk of complications? + Causes at a glance