Waist-to-Height Ratio Calculator

How to Calculate Waist-to-Height Ratio

The Waist-to-Height Ratio (WHtR) is a simple yet effective measure of central obesity and associated health risks. It's calculated by dividing your waist circumference by your height.

Waist-to-Height Ratio Formula

The formula for calculating WHtR is:

$$WHtR = \frac{Waist \text{ Circumference}}{Height}$$

Where both waist circumference and height are measured in the same units (typically centimeters).

Calculation Steps

1. Measure your waist circumference at the narrowest part of your torso
2. Measure your height
3. Ensure both measurements are in the same unit (preferably centimeters)
4. Divide your waist circumference by your height
5. The result is your Waist-to-Height Ratio

Example Calculation

Let's calculate the WHtR for a person with a waist circumference of 80 cm and a height of 170 cm.

Step 1: Apply the WHtR Formula

$$\begin{align} WHtR &= \frac{Waist \text{ Circumference}}{Height} \\ &= \frac{80 \text{ cm}}{170 \text{ cm}} \\ &= 0.471 \end{align}$$

Step 2: Interpret the Result

A WHtR of 0.471 falls in the "Healthy" category, indicating a low health risk.

Interpreting Waist-to-Height Ratio

• Less than 0.4: Underweight
• 0.4 to 0.49: Healthy
• 0.5 to 0.59: Overweight
• 0.6 or higher: Obese

Visual Representation

This bar chart visually represents the different Waist-to-Height Ratio categories and their corresponding health risk levels. The red line indicates the example WHtR of 0.471, which falls in the "Healthy" category.