Calculators · General Medicine · Formula

Waist-to-height ratio (WHtR)

Also called WHtR, waist height ratio, keep your waist to less than half your height

Central adiposity screen for adult cardiometabolic risk; one boundary (0.5) for both sexes and all ethnic groups.

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Formula and scoring

WHtR = waist circumference ÷ height (same units). <0.5 no increased risk; 0.5 to <0.6 increased; ≥0.6 very high.

Exam and ward pearls

  • Public message: "keep your waist to less than half your height".
  • WHtR improved discrimination over BMI by 4–5% in the Ashwell meta-analysis, and beat waist circumference for diabetes, hypertension and CVD.

When not to rely on it

  • Adult boundaries; measure waist midway between lowest rib and iliac crest. Not for pregnancy.

Source

  1. Ashwell M, Gunn P, Gibson S. Waist-to-height ratio is a better screening tool than waist circumference and BMI for adult cardiometabolic risk factors: systematic review and meta-analysis. Obes Rev. 2012;13(3):275-86. doi:10.1111/j.1467-789X.2011.00952.x · PMID 22106927
  2. Ashwell M, Gibson S. Waist-to-height ratio as an indicator of 'early health risk': simpler and more predictive than using a 'matrix' based on BMI and waist circumference. BMJ Open. 2016;6(3):e010159. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2015-010159 · PMID 26975935

Formula and cut-offs checked against these sources on 8 Nov 2026. Educational tool for clinicians; it does not replace clinical judgement.

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