Waist-to-Height Ratio Calculator
Your waist divided by your height. Keeping your waist to less than half your height, a ratio under 0.5, is a simple check on the health risk that BMI can miss.
Your waist-to-height ratio
–Enter your height and waist
A ratio under 0.5 means your waist is less than half your height.
What your ratio means
| Ratio | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Under 0.5 | No increased health risk |
| 0.5–0.59 | Increased health risk |
| 0.6 or more | High health risk |
These bands come from guidance for adults by NICE, the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. NICE recommends using the ratio alongside BMI in adults with a BMI under 35.
How to measure your waist
- Find the bottom of your ribs and the top of your hips.
- Wrap a tape measure around your middle, halfway between those two points.
- Breathe out normally and read the tape. Keep it snug, but don’t pull it tight.
Why it matters
Fat stored around the middle is more closely linked to type 2 diabetes and heart disease than fat elsewhere. Two people with the same BMI can have very different waists, which is why guidelines now pair BMI with a waist measure.
Calculate your BMI → · Limitations of BMI →