Physical Education · Ch 6 — Test, Measurement & Evaluation
Waist to Hip Ratio (WHR)
Waist to Hip Ratio (WHR)
Where BMI tells us how much a person weighs for their height, the Waist-to-Hip Ratio (WHR) tells us where the body stores its fat. It determines the possibility of health risks and indicates whether a person has an apple-shaped or pear-shaped figure - that is, it measures the distribution of body fat and, in particular, abdominal (central) obesity, which is the most dangerous kind for health.
- Aim - to determine the ratio of waist circumference to hip circumference, as this is related to the risk of coronary heart disease.
- Equipment required - a tape measure.
- Target population / use - to gauge the coronary-artery-disease risk factor associated with obesity.
- Advantage - it is a simple measure anyone can take at home to monitor their own body composition.
- Basis - it assumes that fat stored around the waist poses a greater health risk than fat stored elsewhere in the body.
Measuring waist and hip circumference
Both measurements are taken with a flexible tape measure, held snug against the skin but not compressing it, with the person standing relaxed:
- Waist girth (Gw) - around the narrowest part of the waist, between the bottom of the ribs and the top of the hip bone (around navel level), after a normal breath out.
- Hip girth (Gh) - around the widest part of the hips/buttocks.
Both must be in the same unit (both cm or both inches) - since WHR is a ratio, the unit cancels out.
The formula
WHR = Gw / Gh
- Gw = waist girth (narrowest part of the waist)
- Gh = hip girth (widest part of the hips)
- unit - none (it is a ratio of two lengths in the same unit)
Worked example
A woman has a waist of 70 cm and hips of 90 cm:
- Write the ratio: WHR = 70 / 90
- Divide: WHR = 0.78
- Interpret: the risk cut-off for a woman is 0.85 and above; 0.78 is below it, so it does not indicate abdominal-obesity risk.
WHO cut-offs for a healthy WHR
The World Health Organization gives a healthy WHR as:
| Sex | Healthy WHR | Abdominal-obesity risk indicated at |
|---|---|---|
| Men | 0.9 or less | 0.90 and above |
| Women | 0.85 or less | 0.85 and above |
In both men and women, a WHR of 1.0 or higher sharply increases the risk of heart disease and other conditions linked to being overweight.
The textbook's height-weight example and Table No. 1
The book also pairs WHR with a reference Height and Weight Table. For a man who is 183 cm tall and weighs 95 kg: per Table No. 1 the ideal weight for his height is 72.6 - 88.9 kg, so at 95 kg he is overweight. The full table (printed as "Adults Weight to Height Ratio Chart") is reproduced below.
Table No. 1: Height and Weight Table
| Height - Ft. In. (cms) | Female | Male |
|---|---|---|
| 4'6" (137 cm) | 63-77 lb (28.5-34.9 kg) | 63-77 lb (28.5-34.9 kg) |
| 4'7" (140 cm) | 68-83 lb (30.8-37.6 kg) | 68-84 lb (30.8-38.1 kg) |
| 4'8" (142 cm) | 72-88 lb (32.6-39.9 kg) | 74-90 lb (33.5-40.8 kg) |
| 4'9" (145 cm) | 77-94 lb (34.9-42.6 kg) | 79-97 lb (35.8-43.9 kg) |
| 4'10" (147 cm) | 81-99 lb (36.4-44.9 kg) | 85-103 lb (38.5-46.7 kg) |
| 4'11" (150 cm) | 86-105 lb (39-47.6 kg) | 90-110 lb (40.8-49.9 kg) |
| 5'0" (152 cm) | 90-110 lb (40.8-49.9 kg) | 95-117 lb (43.1-53 kg) |
| 5'1" (155 cm) | 95-116 lb (43.1-52.6 kg) | 101-123 lb (45.8-55.8 kg) |
| 5'2" (157 cm) | 99-121 lb (44.9-54.9 kg) | 106-130 lb (48.1-58.9 kg) |
| 5'3" (160 cm) | 104-127 lb (47.2-57.6 kg) | 112-136 lb (50.8-61.6 kg) |
| 5'4" (163 cm) | 108-132 lb (49-59.9 kg) | 117-143 lb (53-64.8 kg) |
| 5'5" (165 cm) | 113-138 lb (51.2-62.6 kg) | 122-150 lb (55.3-68 kg) |
| 5'6" (168 cm) | 117-143 lb (53-64.8 kg) | 128-156 lb (58-70.7 kg) |
| 5'7" (170 cm) | 122-149 lb (55.3-67.6 kg) | 133-163 lb (60.3-73.9 kg) |
| 5'8" (173 cm) | 126-154 lb (57.1-69.8 kg) | 139-169 lb (63-76.6 kg) |
| 5'9" (175 cm) | 131-160 lb (59.4-72.6 kg) | 144-176 lb (65.3-79.8 kg) |
| 5'10" (178 cm) | 135-165 lb (61.2-74.8 kg) | 149-183 lb (67.6-83 kg) |
| 5'11" (180 cm) | 140-171 lb (63.5-77.5 kg) | 155-189 lb (70.3-85.7 kg) |
| 6'0" (183 cm) | 144-176 lb (65.3-79.8 kg) | 160-196 lb (72.6-88.9 kg) |
| 6'1" (185 cm) | 149-182 lb (67.6-82.5 kg) | 166-202 lb (75.3-91.6 kg) |
| 6'2" (188 cm) | 153-187 lb (69.4-84.8 kg) | 171-209 lb (77.5-94.8 kg) |
| 6'3" (191 cm) | 158-193 lb (71.6-87.5 kg) | 176-216 lb (79.8-98 kg) |
| 6'4" (193 cm) | 162-198 lb (73.5-89.8 kg) | 182-222 lb (82.5-100.6 kg) |
| 6'5" (195 cm) | 167-204 lb (75.7-92.5 kg) | 187-229 lb (84.8-103.8 kg) |
| 6'6" (198 cm) | 171-209 lb (77.5-94.8 kg) | 193-235 lb (87.5-106.5 kg) |
| 6'7" (201 cm) | 176-215 lb (79.8-97.5 kg) | 198-242 lb (89.8-109.7 kg) |
| 6'8" (203 cm) | 180-220 lb (81.6-99.8 kg) | 203-249 lb (92-112.9 kg) |
| 6'9" (205 cm) | 185-226 lb (83.9-102.5 kg) | 209-255 lb (94.8-115.6 kg) |