As we put on weight we store some of it around our middle, particularly in men and post-menopausal women – this makes us apple shaped. The fat stored around our mid-section increases our risk of obesity related conditions like heart disease, type 2 diabetes and breast and bowel cancers.
How to do the measurements In no or minimal clothing, first thing in the morning, stand with your feet flat on the ground, shoulder width apart, breath out but don’t suck your stomach in and use a tape measure which isn’t old and stretchy, put the tape at the following two points without pulling it so tight that you can’t fit a finger under the tape: Waist circumference: the point half way between your bottom rib and top of your hip bone, the iliac crest, and Hip circumference: at your widest point where your buttocks stick out – slide the tape up and down to take a few measures to find the widest point. It can be a little tricky to measure accurately, so take the measurements three times and average them. Now plug the results into the calculator below:
What does this mean? Check out your ratio on this table:
If your WHR is:
You are classified as having:
For women
Less than 0.85
a healthy waist to hip ratio and a reduced risk of developing a chronic condition
Greater than 0.85
too much fat stored around your waist and at high risk of developing a chronic condition, fat loss is recommended
For men
Less than 0.90
a healthy waist to hip ratio and a reduced risk of developing a chronic condition
Greater than 0.90
too much fat stored around your waist and at high risk of developing a chronic condition, fat loss is recommended
If your HWR you have too much fat stored around your waist then it’s time to work on your lifestyle as you’re at higher risk of developing chronic health conditions.
