Waist to Hip Ratio – What does it mean?
The National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) states that:
Women with waist-to-hip ratios of more than 0.8 are at increased health risk because of their fat distribution.
Men with waist-to-hip ratios of more than 1.0 are at increased health risk because of their fat distribution.
Excess fat in the abdominal region poses a greater health risk than excess fat in the hips and thighs and is associated with a higher risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, early onset of heart disease, and certain types of cancers. (American Dietetic Association)
Apples and Pears
The apple or pear shape is an anecdotal way of classifying female body shapes.
The general rule is:
WHR (Waist-to-Hip Ratio) on or above 0.8 – you are an apple shape.
WHR under 0.8 – you are a pear shape.
Calculate Your Waist to Hip Ratio
Replace the default numbers with your measurements.
Waist: While standing up with your stomach relaxed, measure your waist at its narrowest point (this is usually about 1 inch above your navel, or belly-button ).
Hips: While standing, measure your hips at their widest point (this is usually around the bony part).
Waist to Hip Ratio is an Indicator of health! It’s not your body fat percent that you should worry about, it is also where in your body the fat is stored. People who store most of their body fat around their waists have an increased risk of high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke compared with those who have the same amount of body fat stored around their hips and thighs.
Research shows that people with “apple-shaped” bodies (with more weight around the waist) face more health risks than those with “pear-shaped” bodies who carry more weight around the hips.
Versus other indicators, the Waist to Hip Ratio has been found to be a more efficient predictor of mortality in the elderly than waist circumference or body mass index (BMI). If obesity is redefined using WHR instead of BMI, the proportion of people categorized as at risk of heart attack worldwide increases threefold! The body fat percentage is considered to be an even more accurate measure of relative weight.
Of these three measurements, BMI, Bodyfat and Waist to Hip Ratio, only the waist-hip ratio takes account of the differences in body structure. Thus, it is possible for two women to have dramatically different body mass numbers, but the same waist-hip ratio. Additionally, these two people can have the same body mass index but vastly different waist-hip ratios.
