Waist to Hip Calculator

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Waist-to-Hip Ratio (WHR) Calculator

function calculateWHR() { var waist = parseFloat(document.getElementById('waistCircumference').value); var hip = parseFloat(document.getElementById('hipCircumference').value); var gender = document.querySelector('input[name="gender"]:checked').value; var resultDiv = document.getElementById('whrResult'); var interpretationDiv = document.getElementById('whrInterpretation'); resultDiv.innerHTML = "; interpretationDiv.innerHTML = "; if (isNaN(waist) || isNaN(hip) || waist <= 0 || hip <= 0) { resultDiv.innerHTML = 'Please enter valid positive numbers for both measurements.'; return; } var whr = waist / hip; resultDiv.innerHTML = 'Your Waist-to-Hip Ratio (WHR): ' + whr.toFixed(2) + ''; var interpretation = "; var riskColor = "; if (gender === 'male') { if (whr = 0.90 && whr < 1.00) { interpretation = 'Moderate health risk'; riskColor = 'orange'; } else { interpretation = 'High health risk'; riskColor = 'red'; } } else { // female if (whr = 0.80 && whr < 0.85) { interpretation = 'Moderate health risk'; riskColor = 'orange'; } else { interpretation = 'High health risk'; riskColor = 'red'; } } interpretationDiv.innerHTML = 'Interpretation: ' + interpretation + ''; }

Understanding Your Waist-to-Hip Ratio (WHR)

The Waist-to-Hip Ratio (WHR) is a quick and simple measurement that can provide valuable insights into your overall health and potential risk for certain chronic diseases. Unlike Body Mass Index (BMI), which only considers overall weight relative to height, WHR specifically looks at the distribution of fat around your body.

What is WHR?

WHR is calculated by dividing your waist circumference by your hip circumference. It's a measure of body fat distribution, indicating how much fat is stored around your waist compared to your hips. A higher WHR suggests a greater proportion of fat stored around the abdomen (apple shape), which is associated with higher health risks than fat stored around the hips (pear shape).

Why is WHR Important?

Research has shown that abdominal fat (visceral fat) is metabolically more active and poses a greater health risk than fat stored in other areas. A high WHR is linked to an increased risk of:

  • Heart disease
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • High blood pressure
  • Stroke
  • Certain cancers

Therefore, WHR serves as an important indicator of metabolic health and can be a better predictor of these risks than BMI alone for some individuals.

How to Measure Correctly:

For accurate results, follow these steps:

  1. Waist Circumference: Stand upright and breathe out normally. Measure around the smallest part of your waist, usually just above your belly button. Ensure the tape measure is snug but not compressing your skin.
  2. Hip Circumference: Stand with your feet together. Measure around the widest part of your hips and buttocks.
  3. Units: Use the same unit of measurement (e.g., centimeters) for both waist and hip.

Interpreting Your WHR:

The health risk associated with WHR varies slightly between men and women. Here are the general guidelines:

For Women:
  • Below 0.80: Low health risk
  • 0.80 – 0.84: Moderate health risk
  • 0.85 and above: High health risk
For Men:
  • Below 0.90: Low health risk
  • 0.90 – 0.99: Moderate health risk
  • 1.00 and above: High health risk

Example Calculations:

Example 1 (Female):

  • Waist: 70 cm
  • Hip: 90 cm
  • WHR = 70 / 90 = 0.78
  • Interpretation: Low health risk

Example 2 (Male):

  • Waist: 95 cm
  • Hip: 100 cm
  • WHR = 95 / 100 = 0.95
  • Interpretation: Moderate health risk

Example 3 (Female):

  • Waist: 88 cm
  • Hip: 100 cm
  • WHR = 88 / 100 = 0.88
  • Interpretation: High health risk

Limitations:

While WHR is a useful tool, it's not a definitive diagnostic measure. It doesn't account for muscle mass, ethnicity, or overall body composition in the same way a full body scan might. It should be used as part of a broader health assessment, in conjunction with other metrics and professional medical advice.

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