WHO Risk Categories
| Risk Level (Males) | WHR Range |
|---|---|
| Low risk | Below 0.90 |
| Moderate risk | 0.90 – 0.99 |
| High risk | 1.00 and above |
How to Measure
What Is a Healthy Waist-to-Hip Ratio?
The waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) compares how much fat you carry around your waist versus your hips. A lower number generally means less abdominal fat and a lower risk of weight-related health problems. The World Health Organization considers a WHR above 0.90 for men or above 0.85 for women to indicate a substantially increased risk of metabolic complications.
Why Does Body Fat Distribution Matter?
Not all body fat is equal. Fat stored around the abdomen (often called an "apple" shape) surrounds vital organs and is linked to higher rates of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure. Fat stored around the hips and thighs (a "pear" shape) is considered less risky from a cardiovascular standpoint.
This is also why WHR can be more useful than BMI alone. BMI tells you whether your overall weight is proportional to your height, but it says nothing about where that weight sits. Two people with the same BMI can have very different risk profiles depending on their fat distribution. WHR fills that gap by specifically measuring abdominal fat relative to hip fat, which is a stronger predictor of cardiovascular risk.