{
  "id": "waist-to-hip-ratio",
  "version": "f8f5b5d87d6f",
  "status": "published",
  "name": "Waist to Hip Ratio Calculator",
  "question": "What is my waist to hip ratio?",
  "summary": "Divides your waist circumference by your hip circumference and compares the waist-to-hip ratio with the WHO cut-offs for increased metabolic risk (0.90 for men, 0.85 for women).",
  "category": "health",
  "subcategory": "body",
  "url": "https://www.acalculator.org/health/waist-to-hip-ratio-calculator",
  "markdown": "https://www.acalculator.org/health/waist-to-hip-ratio-calculator.md",
  "kind": "function",
  "method": "Waist-to-hip ratio = waist circumference ÷ hip circumference; increased risk at ≥ 0.85 (women) or ≥ 0.90 (men).",
  "assumptions": [
    "Both measurements use the same tape method: the waist midway between the lowest rib and the top of the hip bone, the hips at the widest part of the buttocks (WHO protocol).",
    "The cut-offs are the WHO adult cut-offs; they are not meant for children or pregnancy."
  ],
  "inputs": {
    "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
    "type": "object",
    "properties": {
      "sex": {
        "title": "Sex",
        "description": "The WHO cut-off differs for women (0.85) and men (0.90).",
        "type": "string",
        "enum": [
          "female",
          "male"
        ]
      },
      "w": {
        "title": "Waist",
        "description": "Around your waist, midway between the lowest rib and the top of the hip bone.",
        "type": [
          "number",
          "string"
        ],
        "x-quantity": "length",
        "minimum": 0.1,
        "maximum": 3
      },
      "h": {
        "title": "Hips",
        "description": "Around the widest part of your buttocks.",
        "type": [
          "number",
          "string"
        ],
        "x-quantity": "length",
        "minimum": 0.1,
        "maximum": 3
      }
    }
  },
  "outputs": {
    "ratio": {
      "label": "Waist-to-hip ratio",
      "description": "Waist ÷ hips.",
      "format": "number"
    },
    "risk": {
      "label": "WHO verdict for your sex",
      "description": "Substantially increased risk at or above the cut-off for your sex.",
      "format": "text"
    },
    "cutoff": {
      "label": "WHO cut-off for your sex",
      "description": "0.85 for women, 0.90 for men.",
      "format": "number"
    }
  },
  "defaultAnswer": {
    "inputs": {
      "sex": "female",
      "w": 0.762,
      "h": 0.9652
    },
    "outputs": {
      "ratio": 0.7894736842105263,
      "risk": "Below the WHO cut-off for increased risk",
      "cutoff": 0.85
    },
    "text": "A 30 in waist and 38 in hips give a waist-to-hip ratio of 0.789: Below the WHO cut-off for increased risk."
  },
  "examples": [
    {
      "given": {
        "sex": "female",
        "w": 0.8635999999999999,
        "h": 1.016
      },
      "expect": {
        "ratio": 0.85,
        "cutoff": 0.85,
        "risk": "Substantially increased risk of metabolic complications"
      },
      "source": "WHO, Waist circumference and waist-hip ratio: report of a WHO expert consultation, Geneva, 8–11 December 2008 (substantially increased risk: waist-hip ratio ≥ 0.90 for men, ≥ 0.85 for women), https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241501491; hand calculation in content.mdx: 34 ÷ 40 = 0.85 exactly"
    },
    {
      "given": {
        "sex": "male",
        "w": 0.86,
        "h": 1
      },
      "expect": {
        "ratio": 0.86,
        "cutoff": 0.9,
        "risk": "Below the WHO cut-off for increased risk"
      },
      "source": "WHO, Waist circumference and waist-hip ratio: report of a WHO expert consultation, Geneva, 8–11 December 2008 (substantially increased risk: waist-hip ratio ≥ 0.90 for men, ≥ 0.85 for women), https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241501491; hand calculation in content.mdx: 86 ÷ 100 = 0.86, below 0.90"
    },
    {
      "given": {
        "sex": "male",
        "w": 0.9144,
        "h": 1.016
      },
      "expect": {
        "ratio": 0.9,
        "risk": "Substantially increased risk of metabolic complications"
      },
      "source": "WHO, Waist circumference and waist-hip ratio: report of a WHO expert consultation, Geneva, 8–11 December 2008 (substantially increased risk: waist-hip ratio ≥ 0.90 for men, ≥ 0.85 for women), https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241501491; hand calculation in content.mdx: 36 ÷ 40 = 0.9 exactly"
    },
    {
      "given": {
        "sex": "female",
        "w": 0.762,
        "h": 0.9652
      },
      "expect": {
        "ratio": 0.7894736842105263,
        "risk": "Below the WHO cut-off for increased risk"
      },
      "source": "WHO, Waist circumference and waist-hip ratio: report of a WHO expert consultation, Geneva, 8–11 December 2008 (substantially increased risk: waist-hip ratio ≥ 0.90 for men, ≥ 0.85 for women), https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241501491; hand calculation in content.mdx: 30 ÷ 38 = 0.789"
    }
  ],
  "sources": [
    "World Health Organization (2011). Waist circumference and waist-hip ratio: report of a WHO expert consultation, Geneva, 8–11 December 2008. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241501491 (retrieved 2026-10-01)"
  ],
  "related": [
    "waist-to-height-ratio",
    "body-fat",
    "bmi",
    "body-shape"
  ],
  "changelog": []
}