What if a single metric could help predict your risk of heart disease, diabetes, cancer, or even early death? Waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) can do exactly that! In a world focused on numbers on the scale or BMI metrics, simply comparing the circumference of your waist to your hips can provide insight into fat distribution within the body that weight and BMI cannot, a key factor in understanding overall health. Two people of the same height, weight, and body fat percentage may face disparate health risks due to fat distribution. WHR has become an essential and helpful tool in preventative medicine.
How does one measure WHR?
WHR is the circumference of the waist divided by the circumference of the hips. To measure the circumference of the waist, start by standing upright and exhale. Measure the circumference of the waist with a tape measure, placed above the belly button, at the smallest part of the waist. Measure hip circumference by positioning the measuring tape around the widest part of the hips. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), people may have abdominal obesity if their WHR is above 0.85 for women and 0.90 for men.
WHR allows for a clearer picture of fat distribution. Where the fat in your body is located could have a direct impact on your risk for specific health conditions. Too much fat around the waist, abdominal obesity, may be indicative of visceral fat, adipose tissue that surrounds the organs. This dangerous fat distribution can cause systemic inflammation, leading to higher cholesterol, blood pressure, blood glucose, and triglycerides, a type of fat in your blood, increasing the probability of developing cardiovascular disease, cancer, stroke, kidney disease, and type 2 diabetes. WHR is a superior determinant of these health risks than other metrics, including BMI, obstructive sleep apnea in males without obesity, and infertility in females.
How can we help maintain a proper WHR?
Setting realistic goals, portion control, balanced diet, getting enough sleep, and exercise are a great start. If your WHR is above the standards set by the WHO, consider speaking with a medical professional. Abdominal obesity could be a result of underlying health conditions such as thyroid disease, PCOS, Cushing’s Disease, stress, anxiety, or depression. Exercise can help manage the symptoms of these diseases. Try to achieve a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise each week.
While weight and BMI have long dominated health conversations, WHR allows for a clearer understanding of metabolic health and disease risk. WHR is not just about aesthetics but instead, preventative maintenance on our bodies. Understanding and monitoring your WHR are important steps in improving your overall health. With WHR, your shape tells an important story.
