Waist-to-Height Ratio Calculator
Calculate your Waist-to-Height Ratio (WtHR) — a powerful, simple cardiometabolic risk indicator.
What is Waist-to-Height Ratio?
The Waist-to-Height Ratio captures central adiposity in a single number that is age- and sex-neutral. The well-known guideline "keep your waist less than half your height" comes from large meta-analyses showing WtHR predicts diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease better than BMI alone.
How is it calculated?
WtHR = waist circumference / height (any unit, same on both sides). Healthy adult target: < 0.5. Above 0.6 is associated with significantly elevated cardiometabolic risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why is 0.5 the threshold?
- It is the simplest, most memorable cut-off backed by global cohort studies.
- Does WtHR work for children?
- Yes — the same 0.5 rule applies for children over age 5.
- Where do I measure waist?
- At the level of the umbilicus, snug but not compressing.