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What waist-to-height ratio is
Waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) divides your waist measurement by your height. It rests on a memorable rule of thumb: keep your waist to less than half your height. Research suggests it predicts health risk at least as well as BMI — and often earlier.
Reading your result
Measure your waist at its narrowest point and divide by your height (same unit for both). The widely used boundaries are:
| Ratio | Category |
|---|---|
| Below 0.40 | Below the healthy range |
| 0.40–0.49 | Healthy |
| 0.50–0.59 | Increased risk |
| 0.60 and above | High risk |
Why it works so well
Because it includes your waist, WHtR captures abdominal fat — the fat most strongly tied to heart disease and diabetes — which BMI ignores. And because it's scaled to height, the single "under 0.5" threshold works across almost all adults regardless of build, making it simpler than sex-specific charts.
Lowering your ratio
The lever is your waist measurement. A modest calorie deficit, regular activity, more fibre and protein, and better sleep all reduce visceral fat over time. Pair this with the waist-to-hip ratio and body fat calculators for a rounder picture.
Helpful tools
Take quick, repeatable waist and height measurements.
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Frequently asked questions
What is a healthy waist-to-height ratio?
A ratio between 0.40 and 0.49 is considered healthy. The simple guideline is to keep your waist measurement under half your height (below 0.5).
Is waist-to-height ratio better than BMI?
Many studies find WHtR predicts cardiovascular and metabolic risk as well as or better than BMI, because it accounts for abdominal fat that BMI misses.
Do men and women use different thresholds?
No — that's part of its appeal. The 'under 0.5' rule applies to both sexes and most adults, unlike BMI and waist-to-hip charts.
How do I measure my waist for this?
Measure at the narrowest point of your torso, usually just above the belly button, with the tape level and snug. Use the same unit as your height.