Waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) is increasingly used alongside or instead of BMI, since it accounts for where fat is stored rather than just total weight. The general guidance many clinicians use: keep your waist circumference under half your height.
Thresholds used: 0.40 to 0.49 healthy, 0.50 to 0.59 increased risk, 0.60 or above high risk, matching the categories in the UK's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) obesity guidance. This is a screening estimate, not a diagnosis, and does not account for pregnancy, muscle mass or other individual factors. See our medical disclaimer.
The "half your height" rule
Waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) is your waist circumference divided by your height. The message behind it is simple: keep your waist to less than half your height. A person who is 170 cm (5 ft 7 in) tall should aim for a waist under 85 cm (about 33.5 in). It works in inches or centimeters, the same way for men and women, and with no lookup tables.
Waist-to-height ratio chart
| Ratio | Category | Example: waist for a 66-inch (168 cm) adult |
|---|---|---|
| Below 0.40 | May indicate underweight | Under 26.4 in (67 cm) |
| 0.40 to 0.49 | Healthy | 26.4 to 32.9 in (67 to 83 cm) |
| 0.50 to 0.59 | Increased health risk | 33 to 38.9 in (84 to 99 cm) |
| 0.60 or above | High health risk | 39.6 in (101 cm) or more |
Why researchers like this measure
A 2012 meta-analysis by Ashwell and colleagues pooled data from more than 300,000 adults and found waist-to-height ratio predicted diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease better than BMI, and slightly better than waist circumference alone. The reason is that it reflects central (abdominal) fat while also adjusting for body size. A 90 cm waist means something different on a person who is 155 cm tall than on someone who is 190 cm tall. In 2022, NICE in the UK began recommending that adults with a BMI under 35 also measure their waist-to-height ratio.
How to measure your waist
- Stand upright and breathe out normally. Do not suck in.
- Find the point halfway between your lowest rib and the top of your hip bone, usually around the belly button.
- Wrap the tape around your bare waist at that level, keeping it level and snug without pressing in.
- Measure your height without shoes, in the same units.
WHtR compared with other measures
- BMI: ignores where fat is stored and can mislabel muscular people.
- Waist-to-hip ratio: needs a second tape measurement and has different cutoffs for men and women. Try our waist-to-hip ratio calculator.
- Waist circumference: needs separate cutoffs by sex and sometimes by ethnicity, and does not adjust for height.
Limitations
The ratio is not meaningful during pregnancy and is less studied in older adults with loss of height, in very muscular athletes and in children, where age-specific charts are used. It also does not measure fitness, blood pressure or blood sugar, which matter as much as body shape.
If your ratio is 0.5 or higher
A high ratio is a reason to check, not to panic. Ask your doctor about blood pressure, A1C and cholesterol tests. Activity, diet quality, sleep and limiting alcohol all reduce abdominal fat, and gradual weight loss of 5 to 10 percent of body weight usually improves blood sugar and blood pressure noticeably. For some people, prescription weight-management medicines are appropriate.
Related reading
- Waist-to-hip ratio calculator
- A1C to estimated average glucose calculator
- Wegovy vs Saxenda
- Ozempic vs phentermine
- All nutrition and fitness articles
Frequently asked questions
What is a good waist-to-height ratio?
Between 0.40 and 0.49 is generally considered healthy for adults. At 0.50 and above, health risks start to rise.
Does waist-to-height ratio work the same for men and women?
Yes. Unlike waist-to-hip ratio or waist circumference, the same 0.5 boundary applies to both sexes, which is a big part of its appeal.
Is waist-to-height ratio better than BMI?
For predicting cardiometabolic risk, studies suggest it is, because it reflects abdominal fat. BMI is still widely used, and the two together give a fuller picture.
Can children use this calculator?
The 0.5 boundary has been studied in children over about age 5, but children's measurements are best interpreted by a pediatrician with age-appropriate charts.
Sources
- 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. Obesity Reviews. 2012. PubMed
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Overweight and obesity management (NG246)
- World Health Organization. Waist circumference and waist-hip ratio: report of a WHO expert consultation. WHO
About this article
Written by the Health Linear Editorial Team from primary sources such as FDA prescribing information, DailyMed, NIH and peer-reviewed studies, which are linked in the article. Last updated October 27, 2026.
Read our editorial process and medical disclaimer. Spotted an error? Tell us and we will correct it.