The waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) is a rapid assessment of fat distribution that can reveal information about a person's general health according to Lana Burgess of Medical News Today. Furthermore, people who carry more weight around their stomach than their hips may be more susceptible to certain health problems. Your doctor can use the waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) as one of several assessments to see if your weight is putting your health at risk.
Unlike the BMI which determines the ratio of your weight to your height, the WHR calculates the ratio of your waist circumference to your hip circumference. It calculates the amount of fat stored around your waist, hips, and buttocks. When it comes to your health concerns, not all excess weight is created equal. When it comes to your health concerns, not all excess weight is created equal.
People who carry more of their weight around their midsection (an apple-shaped body) may be at a higher risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and premature death than people who carry more of their weight in their hips and thighs, according to a study published in 2021 by Fatemeh Moosaie and colleagues (a pear-shaped body). Your risk of disease may be elevated even if your BMI is in the modest range.
The circumference of a person's waist and hips can be used to calculate their WHR. The term "circumference" refers to the length of a circle. To measure a person's waist circumference, they should stand up straight and breathe out, then use a tape measure to measure their waist right above the belly button. This is where the waist should be the smallest. Remember to record the waist measurement before moving on to the hips, and don't pull the tape measure too tight. Stand up straight and wrap a tape measure around the widest portion of their hips to determine their circumference.
Take your measurement where the tape measure's ends overlap but don't pull it too tight. Divide the first measurement (waist circumference) by the second measurement to get the WHR (hip circumference). The ratio is unaffected by whether measurements are taken in centimeters (cm) or inches (in). A moderate WHR, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), is 0.9 or less in males and 0.85 or less in women. A WHR of 1.0 or greater raises the risk of heart disease and other diseases connected to being overweight in both men and women.
What are the benefits of applying this technique? WHR is a simple, low-cost, and accurate approach to determine your body fat percentage. It can also help you predict your chances of developing heart disease or diabetes. According to research published by the American Diabetes Association, WHR is even more accurate than BMI in predicting the risk of cardiovascular disease and premature death. For example, even in those with a modest BMI, a high WHR was connected to an increased risk of early death in a 2015 study of over 15,000 adults.
People who are "apple-shaped" have a higher risk of certain health disorders than those who are "pear-shaped," according to research (when the hips are wider than the upper body). Cardiovascular disease is one of these illnesses. Obesity in the abdomen increases the risk of heart disease and cancer. According to a 2016 study, having a larger waist circumference was connected to a higher risk of type 2 diabetes. A 2002 study indicated that women with a WHR of over 0.80 have a lower pregnancy rate than women with a WHR of less than 0.80, regardless of BMI.
If a person has a high WHR and is overweight around the waist, they should be concerned about the health problems that may come with it. It is a good idea to try to lose weight in order to lessen these hazards. The most effective strategy to lose weight is to consume fewer calories than are burned, which is usually accomplished by eating less calories and moving more. An excellent place to start is by eating a healthy diet, limiting portion sizes, and exercising several times per week.
Measuring a person's WHR is a rapid approach to gain a sense of their overall health, level of obesity, and risk of weight-related health problems. However, because WHRs can be erroneously calculated, they should not be used as the only indicator of obesity or health risk. The best method to gain a more complete picture is to talk to your doctor about your weight and any associated health risks.
PNFP-ZDS Marie Claire A. Gaas, RND
References:
1. Why is the hip-waist ratio important?
Medically reviewed by Daniel Bubnis, M.S., NASM-CPT, NASE Level II-CSS, Fitness — Written by Lana Burgess on September 17, 2017
2. Waist-To-Height Ratio Is a More Accurate Tool for Predicting Hypertension Than Waist-To-Hip Circumference and BMI in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Prospective Study
Fatemeh Moosaie, Seyede Marzie Fatemi Abhari, Niloofar Deravi, Arman Karimi Behnagh, Sadaf Esteghamati, Fatemeh Dehghani Firouzabadi, Soghra Rabizadeh, Manouchehr Nakhjavani and Alireza Esteghamati
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2021.726288/full
3. What Is the Waist-to-Hip Ratio?
Medically reviewed by Angela M. Bell, MD, FACP — Written by Stephanie Watson and Rachel Nall, MSN, CRNA — Updated on November 18, 2021
