About Waist-to-Hip Ratio

Belly fat is a health threat that won't go away without a fight. At least that is what we hear on late night commercials that attempt to sell consumers a new way to fight the battle of the middle bulge. The fact is belly fat can be a serious threat. One way to determine if your middle poses an increased threat is to calculate your waist-to-hip ratio.

Identification

• Waist-to-hip ratio refers to the comparison of weight carried between the waist and hips. To calculate your waist-to-hip ratio use a measuring tape to measure the circumference of the narrowest point around the waist, and then measure the circumference of the widest point around the hips. Divide the waist measurement by the hip measurement. For example, a person with a 24-inch waist and 40 inches around the hips would have a waist-to-hip ratio of 0.6.

Effects

• Obesity poses an increased health risk for a hypertension, osteoarthritis, dyslipidemia, diabetes, stroke, gallbladder disease, sleep apnea, respiratory problems, some cancers and coronary heart disease. Carrying a higher ratio of excess weight on the waist, as opposed to the hips, increases the risk for heart disease. People with apple-shaped bodies are at a higher risk than people with pear-shaped bodies.

Features

• There are several ways to determine if a person is carrying too much weight around the abdomen. The first method addresses only the circumference of the waist, while the second method addresses the waist-to-hip ratio. With the first method, use a measuring tape to measure the waist at the narrowest point. Measurements greater than 40 inches for men or 35 inches for women are considered too high. If using the waist-to-hip ratio, if it is greater than 0.9 for men or 0.85 for women, it is considered too high (see Resources below).

Significance

• While it is not clear why body shape increases the risk for heart disease, it is known that people with a higher ratio of belly fat have a greater tendency to have metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a combination of medical disorders which increases the risk for heart disease. It is difficult for people to alter their body shape, which makes it crucial for those with apple shapes to exercise and maintain a healthy body weight (see Resources below).

Theories/Speculation

• Many health websites offer a free waist-to-hip ratio online calculator. When using the online calculator, the ratio will be the same as what you could easily tabulate on your calculator. Each site includes a recommendation for a safe ratio range. The various websites do not necessarily agree on what is considered a safe range. According to the Mayo Clinic website, any number over 0.9 for men and 0.85 for women poses increased health risks (see Resources below). The numbers are different at the Your Total Health and The Healthy Me websites. Your Total Health website recommends a number under 0.72 for women, and .090 for men as the ideal ratio goal. The Healthy Me website recommends under .092 for men and .076 for women as a healthy range.