Waist-to-Hip Ratio: A Better Health Indicator Than BMI
Why waist-to-hip ratio predicts cardiovascular disease risk better than BMI. Learn about abdominal obesity, measurement methods, and how to assess your health using WHR.
Guide overview
People with normal BMI but excessive waist circumference may face higher cardiovascular risk than those with higher BMI but normal waist size.
Why waist-to-hip ratio predicts cardiovascular disease risk better than BMI. Learn about abdominal obesity, measurement methods, and how to assess your health using WHR.
Key points from the source guide
The source guide explains why fat distribution can matter more than body weight alone.
It contrasts apple-shaped and pear-shaped fat patterns through the waist-to-hip ratio.
It gives measurement guidance for waist and hip circumference so the ratio is consistent.
Try the related Toolars calculators
This migrated guide links to these Toolars tools: waist-hip-ratio, bmi-calculator.
Tools mentioned in this article
Frequently asked questions
- Why is waist-hip ratio better than BMI?
- WHR specifically measures abdominal fat, which is more strongly linked to heart disease and diabetes than total body weight. BMI cannot distinguish between harmful belly fat and harmless fat stored elsewhere.
- How do I measure waist and hip correctly?
- Waist: measure at the narrowest point, usually just above the belly button. Hip: measure at the widest point of your buttocks. Use a flexible tape measure, keep it level, and do not pull too tight.