Waist-to-Height Ratio (WHtR)
Waist-to-height ratio (Ashwell) = waist circumference / height, any consistent unit; a value at or above the 0.5 boundary marks increased central-adiposity risk.
Open the calculator → Runs in your browser. Data leaves only if you deliberately send a problem report from the interactive tool.
Example
- Waist circumference
- 90 cm
- Height
- 170 cm
Result: Waist-to-height ratio 0.53 — increased central-adiposity risk (boundary 0.5; Ashwell).
The tool opens with these values already filled in. Replace them with your own.
What the result means
- < 0.5
- 0.4 to below 0.5 is the healthy range; the "keep your waist to less than half your height" boundary.
- 0.5 to < 0.6
- increased central-adiposity / early health risk.
- >= 0.6
- high central-adiposity risk (Ashwell "take action").
What you enter
- Waist circumference
- Height
How this is calculated
Ashwell M, Gibson S. Waist-to-height ratio as an indicator of "early health risk": simpler and more predictive than using a "matrix" based on BMI and waist circumference. BMJ Open. 2016;6(3):e010159. Boundary 0.5 ("keep your waist to less than half your height"). Read the source ↗
A reference and educational tool. Not medical, legal, or financial advice, and not a substitute for clinician judgment.