Waist-to-Height Ratio
0.49
Category
Healthy
Ideal Waist
30–37 in
Measure at the narrowest point, usually at the navel
Waist-to-Height Ratio
0.49
Healthy — Optimal health range
29.7 – 36.6 in
Based on the healthy WHtR range of 0.43 – 0.53
Inputs
Result
WHtR = 86 ÷ 175 = 0.491. This falls just under the 0.5 healthy boundary, indicating low central obesity risk.
Inputs
Result
WHtR = 94 ÷ 168 = 0.560. This exceeds 0.53 and indicates increased cardiovascular and metabolic risk.
Inputs
Result
WHtR = 74 ÷ 183 = 0.404. This falls in the slim range (0.35–0.43), indicating low central adiposity.
Waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) is a simple screening tool that divides your waist circumference by your height to assess central obesity and health risk. A WHtR below 0.5 means your waist is less than half your height, which is considered healthy. For example, a person 170 cm tall with a 76 cm waist has a WHtR of 0.45 (76 ÷ 170 = 0.45).
WHtR was proposed as a simpler alternative to BMI and waist circumference alone. Research published in journals like Obesity Reviews shows WHtR is a stronger predictor of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome than BMI. The universal boundary of 0.5 applies across age groups, sex, and ethnicity.
A good waist-to-height ratio is below 0.50, meaning your waist is less than half your height. The healthy range is 0.43–0.53. Below 0.43 is slim, and above 0.53 indicates increasing health risk. The simple rule: "Keep your waist to less than half your height."
| WHtR Range | Category | Health Risk |
|---|---|---|
| < 0.35 | Extremely Slim | Very Low |
| 0.35 – 0.43 | Slim | Low |
| 0.43 – 0.53 | Healthy | Normal |
| 0.53 – 0.58 | Overweight | Increased |
| 0.58 – 0.63 | Very Overweight | High |
| > 0.63 | Obese | Very High |
Research suggests WHtR is a better predictor of cardiovascular disease and metabolic risk than BMI. A 2012 meta-analysis in Obesity Reviews found WHtR was superior to BMI for detecting cardiometabolic risk factors. WHtR directly measures central obesity (belly fat), while BMI cannot distinguish between muscle and fat mass.
Measure your waist at the midpoint between your lowest rib and the top of your hip bone (iliac crest), usually at or just above the navel. Stand up straight, breathe out normally, and wrap the tape snugly around your bare skin without compressing it. Measure in the morning before eating for consistency.
A WHtR above 0.5 is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, stroke, and metabolic syndrome. The risk increases progressively — a WHtR of 0.6 carries significantly more risk than 0.55. Central obesity measured by WHtR correlates with dangerous visceral fat around organs.
Yes, WHtR works for children aged 5 and older using the same 0.5 cutoff. Unlike BMI which requires age-and-sex-specific percentile charts for children, WHtR uses a universal threshold. Studies show WHtR reliably identifies pediatric central obesity across all age groups and ethnicities.
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Last Updated: Mar 9, 2026
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