Your waist-to-hip ratio is your waist measurement divided by your hip measurement. It is used as a simple guide to where the body stores fat: a higher ratio suggests more fat around the middle, which is linked with a greater risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes. The World Health Organization has used figures of about 0.85 for women and 0.90 for men as thresholds above which risk rises. It is a health marker, not a beauty score.
How to measure it accurately
- Waist: stand upright, breathe out gently and measure midway between the bottom of your lowest rib and the top of your hip bone; for many people this is roughly level with the belly button.
- Hips: measure around the widest part of your buttocks, keeping the tape level.
- Technique: use a flexible tape, keep it snug but not tight, measure over bare skin or thin clothing and take each measurement twice.
- Calculate: divide the waist figure by the hip figure, using the same units for both.
For example, a waist of 30 inches and hips of 40 inches gives a ratio of 0.75.
What the number tells you about health
Fat carried around the abdomen, especially the visceral fat inside the tummy around the organs, is more strongly linked with raised blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and heart disease than fat stored on the hips and thighs. The waist-to-hip ratio is one way of estimating this pattern. The NHS also uses waist-to-height ratio, suggesting that your waist should be less than half your height. Neither measure replaces a proper health check, and if you are concerned your GP can assess your overall risk, including blood pressure, blood tests and family history.
Why ratios vary between people
- Sex hormones: oestrogen favours fat storage on the hips and thighs, while testosterone favours the abdomen, so men usually have higher ratios.
- Menopause: falling oestrogen shifts fat towards the waist in many women.
- Genetics and ethnicity: inherited body shape and bone structure affect both measurements, and health thresholds may differ between ethnic groups.
- Pelvic width: a wide pelvis increases hip measurement regardless of fat.
- Lifestyle: diet, alcohol, activity, sleep and stress all influence abdominal fat.
Waist-to-hip ratio and body shape
Beyond health, the ratio is sometimes discussed in terms of figure, with an hourglass shape associated with a narrower waist relative to the hips. Social media often presents exaggerated waist-to-hip proportions that are unachievable or edited. A healthy body can have many shapes, and a lower ratio achieved through extreme dieting or other risky means is not healthier. Cosmetic surgery is for adults aged 18 and over and should never be driven by comparison with filtered images.
How to improve an unhealthy ratio
The most effective way to reduce abdominal and visceral fat is gradual weight loss through a balanced diet, regular aerobic activity and strength training, cutting down on alcohol and sugary drinks, getting enough sleep and managing stress. Even modest weight loss can improve blood pressure and blood sugar. Your GP can offer advice and support, including referral to weight management services where appropriate.
What liposuction can and cannot change
Liposuction removes fat beneath the skin, so treating the waist and flanks can reduce the waist measurement and refine the silhouette. However, it does not remove visceral fat, so it does not lower the health risks associated with a high waist-to-hip ratio and is not a treatment for them. Where stretched muscles or loose skin contribute to a wide waist, a tummy tuck may be considered. For shape around the hips and buttocks, fat transfer procedures such as a buttock fat grafting (BBL) are sometimes discussed, following BAAPS safety guidance.
Is surgery right for you?
Contouring surgery is best suited to adults close to a healthy, stable weight with specific areas of stubborn fat. Mr Nassab will look at your whole body shape, skin quality and health before advising. 360 liposuction of the waist, flanks and back is often used to refine the midsection. Liposuction costs from £7,500 for one area, £8,500 for two and £9,500 for three; the £150 consultation is separate.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a healthy waist-to-hip ratio?
The World Health Organization has used thresholds of about 0.85 for women and 0.90 for men, with higher figures linked to increased health risk. Your GP can put your number in context.
Is waist-to-hip ratio better than BMI?
It gives information about where fat is stored, which BMI does not. Each measure has limits, and they are most useful together.
Will liposuction improve my health?
No. Liposuction removes fat under the skin for contour, not the visceral fat linked to health risks.
Can exercise change my waist-to-hip ratio?
Yes. Reducing overall body fat through activity and diet often reduces waist size, which lowers the ratio.
