Waist-to-height ratio Calculator
A waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) Calculator is a tool designed to help you work out if somebody is at risk because of their waist circumference and their weight. In contrast to BMI, which uses only weight and height, WHtR is especially focused on abdominal fat, a better indicator of health risks, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome.
The calculator is simple: You input your waist circumference (wherever it may lie at your navel, typically) and your height. It will then give you your WHtR result and usually inform you which risk category you belong in.
Waist-to-Height Ratio Calculator
Assess your heart failure risk with precision based on the latest medical research
Calculator
Your Results
Enter your measurements to calculate your Waist-to-Height Ratio and assess your heart failure risk.
Your Waist-to-Height Ratio (WtHR):
Heart Failure Risk Assessment
WtHR vs. BMI Comparison
WtHR and Heart Failure Risk
Recent research from the European Society of Cardiology (2025) has shown that waist-to-height ratio (WtHR) is a significant predictor of heart failure incidence.
A study of 1,792 participants followed over 12.6 years found that:
- Higher WtHR was associated with a 34% increased risk of heart failure per one standard deviation increase
- Individuals with the highest values of WtHR (median 0.65) had a 2.7x higher risk compared to those with lower values
- WtHR is considered a more robust measure of central adiposity (harmful fat around visceral organs) than BMI
- The ideal target is to maintain a waist circumference less than half your height (WtHR < 0.5)
Unlike BMI, WtHR takes into account the distribution of body fat, which is particularly important as abdominal fat affects organs like the heart, liver, and kidneys more adversely than fat in other areas.
Understanding WtHR Classifications
| WtHR Classification | Adult women | Adult men | Children <15 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Extremely slim | ≤ 0.34 | ≤ 0.34 | ≤ 0.34 |
| Slim | 0.35 – 0.41 | 0.35 – 0.42 | 0.35 – 0.45 |
| Healthy | 0.42 – 0.48 | 0.43 – 0.52 | 0.46 – 0.51 |
| Overweight | 0.49 – 0.53 | 0.53 – 0.57 | 0.52 – 0.63 |
| Very overweight | 0.54 – 0.57 | 0.58 – 0.62 | - |
| Obese | ≥ 0.58 | ≥ 0.63 | ≥ 0.64 |
Key Takeaways
- A WtHR below 0.5 is generally considered healthy
- Values above 0.5 are associated with increased cardiometabolic risk
- Values above 0.6 are associated with significantly higher heart failure risk
- WtHR is more sensitive to central fat distribution than BMI
How to Use the Calculator
1. Measure your waist: Wrap a measuring tape around your abdomen at the level of your belly button, making sure it’s snug but not compressing the skin.
2. Measure your height: Stand straight against a wall without shoes.
3. Enter both values into the calculator in the same units.
4. Get your WHtR result. The calculator will also classify your risk level based on your ratio.