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Waist-to-Height Ratio Calculator

A quick check of belly fat: your waist measurement compared with your height.

Your details

Units

From your profile. Changes here update it everywhere.

Sex (optional)

Only needed for waist-to-hip ratio.

Measurements

Midway between lowest rib and hip bone, after breathing out.

Widest point of the buttocks. Adds waist-to-hip ratio.

For general information only; not medical advice. Consult a qualified professional before making health decisions.

How this is calculated
Waist-to-height ratio = waist ÷ height

Categories (NICE 2022)

0.40–0.49  healthy
0.50–0.59  increased health risk
0.60 and over  high health risk

Waist-to-hip ratio (WHO)

waist ÷ hip; higher risk at 0.90+ (men), 0.85+ (women)

Measure your waist midway between your lowest rib and the top of your hip bone, after breathing out normally. That's often around the belly button.

NICE recommends this ratio alongside BMI for adults with a BMI under 35, for all ethnicities.

Sources

  • NICE (2022), Obesity: identification, assessment and management (CG189), waist-to-height ratio recommendations.
  • Ashwell M, Gunn P, Gibson S (2012), Waist-to-height ratio is a better screening tool than waist circumference and BMI for adult cardiometabolic risk factors. Obes Rev 13:275–286.
  • World Health Organization (2008), Waist circumference and waist-hip ratio: report of a WHO expert consultation.

About the waist-to-height ratio calculator

Why waist matters

Fat stored around your middle, around the organs, is more strongly linked with type 2 diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure than fat elsewhere. BMI can't see where weight sits; a tape measure can. That's why this ratio picks up raised risk that BMI misses, especially in South Asian people, who tend to carry more abdominal fat at the same BMI.

Read more about the Waist-to-Height calculator

One simple rule

Keep your waist to less than half your height. At 170 cm, that's a waist under 85 cm. The rule works for men and women and across ethnic groups, which is why NICE adopted it in 2022.

Waist-to-hip ratio

Add your hip measurement (the widest point of your buttocks) to also see your waist-to-hip ratio. The World Health Organization uses 0.90 for men and 0.85 for women as the point where metabolic risk rises substantially.

Frequently asked questions

What is a healthy waist-to-height ratio?

0.4 to 0.49. At 0.5 or more, health risks start to rise; at 0.6 or more, they're high (NICE, 2022).

How do I measure my waist correctly?

Stand up straight and measure midway between your lowest rib and the top of your hip bone, after breathing out normally. Keep the tape snug but not tight.

Is waist-to-height ratio better than BMI?

It's a better marker of fat around the middle, which drives much of the risk. NICE recommends using both: BMI for overall size and waist-to-height for where weight is carried.

What waist size should I aim for?

Under half your height. The calculator shows your number—for example, under 87.5 cm if you're 175 cm tall.