Download Waist to Hip Ratio

Does Your Body Type Put You At Risk?
What is Waist-to-Hip Ratio?
Waist-to-Hip Ratio (WHR) looks at the proportion of fat stored on your body in the waist
and hip areas. Most people store their body fat in two ways: around the middle (the apple
shape) and around the hips (the pear shape).
People who tend to gain weight mostly in their hips and buttocks have roughly a pear body
shape, while people who tend to gain weight in their abdomen have an apple body shape.
Having the apple body shape puts people at higher risk for health problems than having a
pear-shaped body. Some of the risk factors associated with an apple shape are obesity,
diabetes, coronary heart disease, and hypertension.
Measure Your Waist-to-Hip Ratio
1. To measure the waist: Measure at the navel for men, and midway between the
bottom of the ribs and the top of the hipbone in women.
2. To measure the hips: Measure hips at the tip of the hipbone in men, and at the
widest point of the hips/buttocks in women.
3. Divide the waist size by the hip size to get the waist-to-hip ratio.
Waist measurement ÷ Hip measurement = Waist-to-Hip Ratio
What is Considered a Healthy Waist-to-Hip Ratio?
A waist-to-hip ratio of 1.0 or greater is in the danger zone with risks of heart disease and
other ailments connected with being overweight.
For men, a ratio of .90 or less is considered safe; and for women, .80 or less.
Ways to Reduce Health Risk Factors
Work with your physician to develop a diet and exercise plan that’s right for you. Whether
you’re an apple shape or a pear shape, keeping your diet and weight under control will help
reduce your risk factors for developing health problems.