What is a normal waist-to-hip ratio (WHR)?

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Dainyal Siddiqui, MD

Internal Medicine

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Manuel Jimenez, MD

Cardiology

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Franz Pierre-Louis, MD

Infectious Disease

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Last updated: March 11, 2025 • View editorial policy

From the Guidelines

A normal waist-to-hip ratio is typically considered to be below 0.85 for women and below 0.90 for men. This measurement is calculated by dividing your waist circumference by your hip circumference, with waist circumference measured at the narrowest point (usually at the navel) and hip circumference measured at the widest point (around the buttocks) while standing relaxed and not holding your breath 1.

Key Points to Consider

  • Ratios above these thresholds indicate central obesity and are associated with increased health risks including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome.
  • The waist-to-hip ratio is considered more informative than BMI alone because it specifically identifies abdominal fat distribution, which is metabolically more active and poses greater health risks than fat stored in other areas of the body 2.
  • Regular monitoring of your waist-to-hip ratio can help track changes in body composition and associated health risks over time.

Measurement and Interpretation

  • To measure your waist-to-hip ratio, place a tape measure around your waist at the narrowest point and your hips at their widest point.
  • Take both measurements while standing relaxed, not holding your breath.
  • Calculate your waist-to-hip ratio by dividing your waist circumference by your hip circumference.
  • Compare your result to the thresholds of 0.85 for women and 0.90 for men to determine if you have a normal waist-to-hip ratio.

From the Research

Definition of Normal Waist-to-Hip Ratio (WHR)

  • The World Health Organization defines a normal waist-to-hip ratio as less than 0.90 for men and less than 0.80 for women 3.
  • However, some studies suggest that a waist-to-hip ratio of greater than or equal to 0.90 in women may be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease risk factors 4.
  • A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that a waist-to-hip ratio greater than or equal to 0.90 was associated with elevated cardiovascular disease risk factors in overweight women 4.

Factors Influencing WHR

  • Waist circumference and hip circumference have independent and often opposite effects on cardiovascular disease risk factors 5.
  • A narrow hip circumference is associated with low HDL-cholesterol and high glucose concentrations in men, and high triacylglycerol and insulin concentrations in men and women 5.
  • A large waist circumference is associated with low HDL-cholesterol concentrations and high fasting triacylglycerol, insulin, and glucose concentrations 5.

Limitations of WHR as a Health Indicator

  • The waist-hip ratio has been argued to be a flawed index, as combining waist circumference and hip circumference as a ratio may be inappropriate 6.
  • Waist circumference and hip circumference are better treated as separate independent variables in multiple regression equations than as their ratio 6.
  • Other body parts, such as the thighs, may share relevant properties with the hips, and measurements of these could perhaps replace hip circumference 6.

Predictive Value of WHR

  • Waist-to-hip ratio is a significant predictor of cardiovascular disease risk, with a 0.01 U increase in WHR associated with a 5% increase in relative risk of a cardiovascular disease event 3.
  • Waist circumference is also a significant predictor of cardiovascular disease risk, with a 1 cm increase in waist circumference associated with a 2% increase in relative risk of a cardiovascular disease event 3.

References

6
Research

The waist-hip ratio: a flawed index.

Annals of human biology, 2020

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Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

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