Question 1

What is Waist-to-Height Ratio (WHtR)?

Accepted Answer

Waist-to-Height Ratio (WHtR) is your waist circumference divided by your height. The simple rule of thumb is: keep your waist less than half your height (WHtR under 0.5). It's a quick screening tool for cardiometabolic risk and is considered more accurate than BMI for many adults.

Question 2

How do I measure my waist correctly?

Accepted Answer

Stand relaxed and measure halfway between the bottom of your last palpable rib and the top of the iliac crest (hip bone). Don't suck in your stomach. Use a soft tape measure and measure at the end of a normal exhale. Measure against skin or light clothing, not over thick fabric.

Question 3

Why is WHtR better than BMI?

Accepted Answer

WHtR accounts for where fat is stored (around the waist), which matters more for heart disease and diabetes risk than total body weight. BMI doesn't distinguish muscle from fat, and it's less accurate for short, tall, athletic or elderly people. Multiple large studies have found WHtR is a stronger predictor of cardiometabolic risk than BMI.

Question 4

What's a healthy WHtR for children?

Accepted Answer

For children aged 6 to 18, a WHtR cutoff of 0.46 is recommended instead of 0.5. The 0.5 rule was derived from adult populations. This calculator uses the adult threshold by default; for pediatric use, consult your pediatrician.