Body composition
Waist-to-Hip Ratio Calculator
Calculate waist-to-hip ratio and assess body composition using WHO guidelines.
Result
Risk threshold position
Against the WHO cut-off for men (0.90).
How to use it
- Measure your waist midway between the lowest rib and the top of the hip bone, at the end of a normal breath out (the WHO protocol), and your hips around the widest part of the buttocks. Stand relaxed with the tape level. Enter both in cm, or inches with Units set to US.
- The WHO cut-off for a substantially increased risk of metabolic complications is a ratio of 0.90 or more in men and 0.85 or more in women. The calculator also flags the 0.05 just below the cut-off as close to it.
- WHR shows where fat is carried, which BMI cannot. In the INTERHEART study of 27,098 people in 52 countries, WHR was more strongly related to heart attack than BMI, whose association largely disappeared once WHR was accounted for (Yusuf et al., 2005). Across 58 cohort studies, neither added much to risk prediction once blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol were known (Emerging Risk Factors Collaboration, 2011).
- Track WHR monthly during a cut alongside scale weight: the two do not always move together, and the tape shows changes in fat distribution that the scale cannot.
- If your WHR is at or above the cut-off, the main lever is overall fat loss through a sustained calorie deficit (300–500 kcal below your TDEE is a common starting point). Spot reduction does not work: abdominal exercises five days a week for six weeks did not reduce abdominal fat in a randomized trial (Vispute et al., 2011).
Questions people usually ask
Where should I measure waist circumference?
WHO protocol: measure horizontally midway between your lowest rib and the top of your hip bone, at the end of a normal breath out. Stand relaxed with the tape snug but not tight.
Where should I measure hip circumference?
Measure at the widest point around your buttocks, keeping the tape horizontal and snug but not tight.
What does waist-to-hip ratio indicate?
WHR is a body composition metric that can correlate with health risk. Lower ratios generally suggest a healthier fat distribution pattern.
Why are the risk ranges different for males and females?
Biological differences in typical fat distribution patterns mean different WHR thresholds for males and females according to WHO guidelines.
Is this the only body composition metric I should use?
No. WHR is most useful alongside other metrics like BMI, body fat percentage, and waist circumference alone.
Is this tool free and private to use?
Yes. AI Fit Hub tools are free, no-signup browser tools. Inputs stay in your browser unless you choose to share a URL.
Do these tools replace medical guidance?
No. These outputs are general fitness estimates — not medical advice.
Can I switch between metric and imperial units?
Yes. Every tool supports both systems and remembers your preference in localStorage.
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Background on the Waist-to-Hip Ratio Calculator
- Comparison How Accurate Is the Navy Body Fat Calculator vs Calipers
How accurate is the Navy body fat method? In 1,407 recruits, tape equations read 6 points low vs DXA and missed most fat loss; skinfolds erred by about 3.4.
By goal
Use it from an agent or code
Any agent can run this calculator by URL: put the inputs in the query string and get JSON back, with the inputs that used defaults and a line to cite (add format=md for markdown). MCP clients reach it through https://aifithub.io/mcp.
https://aifithub.io/api/run/waist-to-hip-ratio-calculator?waist_cm=80&hip_cm=100&sex=male
In code, import the same module; it runs where you import it, with no request or key.
import { compute } from "https://aifithub.io/engines/waist-to-hip-ratio-calculator.js";Input and output contract, TypeScript types and the guide for agents.