Waist-to-height ratio calculator
Divide your waist by your height. NICE's simple message is to keep your waist below half your height.
Your waist-to-height ratio
Enter your age, waist and height, then calculate.
How the ratio works
Because height is in the denominator, the same ratio applies to a short and a tall adult. That is why NICE uses one set of bands rather than separate cut-offs for different heights.
| Ratio | NICE description |
|---|---|
| 0.40 to 0.49 | Healthy central adiposity |
| 0.50 to 0.59 | Increased central adiposity |
| 0.60 or more | High central adiposity |
Below 0.40 is outside the NICE healthy band. That alone does not mean a problem, but unexplained weight loss is worth discussing with a clinician.
Worked example
A 34-year-old office worker in Lahore has a waist of 84 cm and is 172 cm tall. Ratio = 84 ÷ 172 = 0.488, shown as 0.49, in the 0.40 to 0.49 band. Half of 172 cm is 86 cm, so a waist of 86 cm or more would give a ratio of 0.50 or more. Enter 34, 84 and 172 above to see the same figures.
How to measure
- Stand relaxed and measure bare skin or thin clothing.
- Place the tape halfway between the lowest rib and the top of the hip bone, level all the way round.
- Read it after a normal breath out, without pulling the tape tight.
- Use the same unit for waist and height. Repeat once and use the average.
Limits
- It is a screening measure. It cannot tell how much fat sits around your organs.
- Measuring position changes the number by a centimetre or two, which can move you across a band edge.
- Pregnancy changes waist size, so the ratio does not apply.
Use it with other measures, such as BMI, rather than on its own.
Who this tool is for
This tool is for healthy adults aged 20 and older. It is not for use during pregnancy or breastfeeding, and it does not diagnose any condition, suggest medicine doses, set weight-loss targets or write personal meal plans. If you have a medical condition, or a result worries you, speak to a doctor or registered dietitian.
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Sources
- NICE guideline NG246: Overweight and obesity management — waist-to-height ratio bands
See the editorial methodology for how we check sources.