Waist to Hip Ratio
What is it?
Waist to hip ratio is your waist circumference ÷ hip circumference and it is usually a good indicator of health. A ratio of less than 0.8 is considered to have minimal health risks, and anything above to have increased risks.
Calculate your WHR with the BBC.
Why is it important?
Your waist circumference is said to be more important that your hip measurements as abdominal obesity can lead to high levels of visceral fat.
Visceral fat is the fat that surrounds your internal organs.
Apples and Pears
When you carry more weight around your waist you are apple shaped. Carrying more weight around your hips makes you a pear shape. Apple shapes are said to be at higher risk due to the higher likelihood of visceral fat building up. However being overweight or obese will affect your health regardless of where you carry it.
Measure around the smallest part of your middle, usually along your belly button and see where your measurements sit in our table below.
| Men (inches) | Women (inches) | |
|---|---|---|
| Healthy | 37 or less | 32 or less |
| Higher risk | 40+ | 35+ |
If you'd like help on losing weight around your middle or reducing your WHR, come in and have a chat with our professional fitness advisers, at any of our gym facilities, or:
- Call: 01162719144
- Email: sport@le.ac.uk
May Bank Holiday opening hours
