BMI is one method of assessing your health risk, but it does not tell the whole story. One of the important measurements that can help gauge your health risk for a variety of conditions is waist to hip ratio. Use our calculator to assess your health risk category by simply entering your waist and hip measurements in inches or centimeters.

1. Measure the waist at the narrowest point. If you are unsure where this point is, measure around your torso about an inch above the navel. This will be your waist measurement.
2. Measure around the widest part of your hips and buttocks. This is often located near or just below the points of the hip bones. This will be your hip measurement.
3. Enter these numbers into the calculator. It doesn’t matter whether you use inches or centimeters, so long as the units are the same for both. Press the ‘Calculate’ button for results.

The World Health Organization defines abdominal obesity as a waist to hip (WHR) ratio of more than 0.9 for men and more than 0.85 for women. The National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases say that risk for these conditions increases in men with WHRs of more than 1.0, and in women with WHRs of more than 0.8. Because abdominal fat is more dangerous than fat stored on other parts of the body, the WHR can be a good measure of future risk.

Fertility studies indicate that a WHR of about 0.9 for men and 0.7 for women is correlated with higher fertility and general overall health. Women with WHRs of more than 0.8 have significantly reduced fertility when compared to those with WHRs of less than 0.8. Men with high WHRs get more prostate and testicular cancer, and are also less fertile.

• Women should attempt to maintain a WHR of less than 0.8
• Men should attempt to maintain a WHR of less than 0.9
• These measurements may be more important than BMI, but should at least be considered along with BMI

Maintaining these values for WHR is associated with decreased risk for a variety of weight-related conditions, and increased general health. It is a quick and easy way to assess your health risk, and provides instant feedback. Use our calculator now to check your waist to hip ratio.