Waist-to-hip ratio
Waist-to-hip ratio
The Waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) is a person's waist circumference divided by their hip circumference. It is a common measure used to determine body fat distribution and health risk associated with excess fat around the waist.
Pronunciation
- Waist-to-hip ratio: /weɪst tə hɪp ˈreɪʃiːoʊ/
Etymology
The term "Waist-to-hip ratio" is a combination of the words "waist" and "hip", referring to the body parts measured, and "ratio", which is a mathematical term used to compare the size of one quantity to another.
Definition
The Waist-to-hip ratio is calculated by dividing the circumference of the waist by the circumference of the hips. This ratio is used as an indicator of health and the risk of developing serious health conditions.
Related Terms
- Body mass index (BMI): Another common measure used to assess whether a person has a healthy body weight for a given height.
- Abdominal obesity: A condition characterized by excessive fat around the stomach and abdomen.
- Metabolic syndrome: A cluster of conditions that occur together, increasing your risk of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.
Health Implications
A high Waist-to-hip ratio indicates that a person has a higher amount of fat around the waist, which can increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and hypertension.
Calculation
To calculate the Waist-to-hip ratio, measure the circumference of the waist at its narrowest point, and the hips at their widest point, then divide the waist measurement by the hip measurement.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Waist-to-hip ratio
- Wikipedia's article - Waist-to-hip ratio
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