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MasterMath

Waist to Hip Ratio Calculator

An 85 cm waist and 98 cm hip give a ratio of 0.87, below the 0.90 threshold for men. Where the fat sits predicts risk better than how much of it there is.

Waist-to-hip ratio

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Waist-to-hip ratio—
Fat distribution—
Assessment—
Threshold for your sex—

How this was worked out

    Indicative result. This is a population risk indicator, not a diagnosis. Only a professional can assess your particular situation.

    The formula

    ratio = waist circumference ÷ hip circumference

    Where it comes from

    Fat around the abdomen behaves differently from fat on the hips and thighs. Visceral fat is metabolically active and sits close to the organs, which is why abdominal distribution predicts cardiovascular and metabolic risk more sharply than total body fat does.

    How to work it out by hand

    1. Measure the waist at its narrowest, usually just above the navel
    2. Measure the hip at its widest point
    3. Divide the waist by the hip
    4. Compare against 0.90 for men and 0.85 for women

    What is worth knowing

    The WHO thresholds — 0.90 for men and 0.85 for women — mark where risk starts climbing, not a diagnosis. Waist circumference alone does much the same job with one fewer measurement: over 94 cm for men and 80 cm for women is the equivalent warning. The distinction between apple and pear shapes is not cosmetic, and it is largely outside your control: genetics and hormones set where fat is stored, which is why some people carry excess weight with far less metabolic consequence than others.

    Frequently asked questions

    What is a healthy waist-to-hip ratio?

    Below 0.90 for men and 0.85 for women, according to the WHO. Above that, cardiovascular and metabolic risk rises.

    Where exactly do I measure?

    Waist at its narrowest point, usually just above the navel, and hip at its widest. Stand relaxed and do not pull the tape tight.

    Is this better than BMI?

    For predicting metabolic risk, yes. It captures where the fat is, which BMI cannot see at all.

    Can I choose where I lose fat?

    No. Spot reduction does not work. You can lose fat overall, and where it comes off first is set by genetics and hormones.