Question 1

What is a healthy waist-to-hip ratio?

Accepted Answer

By WHO cutoffs, low risk is 0.90 or below for men and 0.80 or below for women. Above 1.0 (men) or 0.85 (women) is considered high risk. Women's healthy range is lower because they naturally carry more hip and thigh mass.

Question 2

How do I measure my waist and hips?

Accepted Answer

Waist: at the narrowest point of your torso, or at the navel if there's no clear narrowing. Hips: around the widest part of the buttocks. Keep the tape horizontal and snug, measure on bare skin, and average two readings.

Question 3

Is waist-to-hip ratio better than BMI?

Accepted Answer

It tells you something BMI can't — how your fat is distributed. A normal-BMI person with a high WHR may still carry risk-linked abdominal fat. Use it alongside BMI and waist measurement rather than instead of them.

Question 4

Why are the cutoffs different for men and women?

Accepted Answer

Women typically store more fat around the hips and thighs, which lowers a healthy WHR. The WHO set sex-specific thresholds (0.90 for men, 0.85 for women) so the same ratio isn't read identically for both.

Waist-to-Hip Ratio Calculator — WHR with WHO Risk Bands (2026)