Waist to Height Ratio
Waist to Height Ratio (WHtR)
A person’s waist to height ratio (WHtR), also called waist to stature ratio (WSR), is defined as their waist circumference divided by their height, both measured in the same units. The WHtR is a measure of the distribution of body fat. Higher values of WHtR indicate higher risk of obesity-related cardiovascular diseases; it is correlated with abdominal obesity. WHtR is a much better measure of the risk of heart attack, stroke or death than the more widely used body mass index (BMI). For people under 40 the critical value is 0.5, for people aged 40–50 the critical value is between 0.5 and 0.6, and for people over 50 the critical values start at 0.6. The WSR is calculated as follows:
Waist in inches / Height in inches
Click here for an online WHtR Calculator.
Subjects and their Waist to Height Ratio
General
Healthy cutoff
0.5000
Obese
0.5700
Marilyn Monroe
0.3359
Bodybuilder
0.4580
Female College Swimmer
0.4240
Male College Swimmer
0.4280
Female at increased risk
0.4920
Male at
increased risk
0.5100
Risk equivalent to BMI of 25
0.5100
Risk equivalent to BMI of 30
0.5770
WHtR Health Table
Contact Us
Express Health Systems accepts walk-ins at our Tyler and Plano, Texas, clinics. You can also schedule a virtual appointment through our online platform to start your wellness journey from the comfort of your own home.
To get started, visit us at either location Monday through Saturday from 8 A.M. to 5 P.M., no appointment necessary.
Telemedicine visits are available by appointment only Monday through Saturday from 8 A.M. to 10 P.M.