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Home / Exercising / Fitness tests / Body & exercise tests / Weight measurements / Waist-to-Hip ratio
Waist-to-hip ratio
Introduction
Doctors use Waist-to-Hip Ratio as a way of estimating an individual's risk of coronary disease.
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What is the point?
Research has shown that obesity alone is not the only risk factor for coronary disease. They have also discovered that where you carry your excess fat is important - more fat around the abdomen increases the risk of a coronary. Thus the Waist-to-Hip Ratio is a useful indicator of someone's 'heart health'.
What do you need?
How do you do the test?
- Measure your waist and hip circumference
- Calculate the ratio as shown below
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What results you'll get :
Calculate your Waist to Hip Ratio as follows:
(WHR) = Gw / Gh, where Gw = waist girth, Gh = hip girth
You can use any units for the measurements (e.g. cm or inches), as it is only the ratio that is important.
Take your result and use the table below as a general guideline for acceptable levels for hip to waist ratio.
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acceptable |
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unnacceptable |
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excellent |
good |
average |
high |
extreme |
| male |
< 0.85 |
0.85 - 0.90 |
0.90 - 0.95 |
0.95 - 1.00 |
> 1.00 |
| female |
< 0.75 |
0.75 - 0.80 |
0.80 - 0.85 |
0.85 - 0.90 |
> 0.90 |
What is being measured again?
This is a quick and easy way to assess potential risk of coronary disease.
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