Waist to Height Ratio Calculator
Calculate your waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) — one of the simplest and most effective indicators of health risk. The goal: keep your waist less than half your height.
Measure at the narrowest point or at navel level
WHtR Categories
| WHtR Value | Category | Health Implication |
|---|---|---|
| < 0.40 | Underweight | May indicate insufficient body mass |
| 0.40 – 0.50 | Healthy | Low health risk from central obesity |
| 0.50 – 0.60 | Overweight | Increased health risk |
| > 0.60 | Obese | Substantially increased health risk |
The "Half Your Height" Rule
The simplest health message: keep your waist circumference to less than half your height. This translates to a WHtR below 0.5, which research associates with lower risk of heart disease, diabetes, and early mortality.
WHtR = 78 ÷ 170 = 0.46 (Healthy)
Half-height target = 170 ÷ 2 = 85 cm
✓ Waist (78 cm) is below target (85 cm)
Frequently Asked Questions
WHtR is one of the simplest and most effective screening tools for central obesity-related health risks. It requires just two measurements and the "half your height" rule is easy to remember and apply.
Studies suggest WHtR may better predict cardiovascular and metabolic disease risk than BMI because it specifically measures abdominal obesity. BMI doesn't account for fat distribution.
Yes, the "half your height" rule applies across ages and ethnicities, making it more universally applicable than age-specific BMI percentiles.
Measure at the natural waist (narrowest point) or at navel level. Be consistent with the same location when tracking changes over time.