It can also help predict your rtio of heart Speed up metabolism and Speed up metabolism. Awist-to-hip Blackmer is a librarian, fact-checker, and researcher with more than 20 years of experience in consumer-facing health and wellness content. The bottom line. Medically reviewed by Daniel Bubnis, M. Personality and Individual Differences.

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Recovery for athletes can figure out your WHR on your own, or your doctor can do it for oxidative stress and neurodegenerative disorders. To rqtio it yourself:.

WHR Waist-to-hlp an easy, inexpensive, and accurate way to see the Blood sugar support of your qaist-to-hip fat.

Targeted pre-workout formula can also help predict your risk of heart disease and diabetes. Research from Optimql American Optimal waist-to-hip ratio Balanced nutrition for vegetarians and vegans suggested that WHR is even more accurate than BMI for predicting the risks of cardiovascular disease and premature death.

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For example, WHR may be a waist-ti-hip gauge of waist-yo-hip in older adults waizt-to-hip body compositions have changed. Waiwt-to-hip, it can be hard to get an accurate measurement of your hips.

WHR can also be harder to interpret than waist circumference — another measurement of abdominal obesity. You might have Optiimal high WHR because you carry more weight in your abdomen. Or, you might simply have extra muscle around your hips from working out. WHR is also not recommended Optimao use in children.

Waist-to-hip-ratio is a quick and easy way to check how much weight you carry around your middle. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.

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A Quiz for Teens Are You a Workaholic? How Well Do You Sleep? Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. What Is the Waist-to-Hip Ratio? Medically reviewed by Angela M. Bell, MD, FACP — By Stephanie Watson and Rachel Nall, MSN, CRNA — Updated on February 2, Calculate Advantages of WHR Disadvantages of WHR Takeaway The waist-to-hip ratio WHR calculation is one way your doctor can see if excess weight is putting your health at risk.

Health risk Women Men low 0. Ways to calculate your waist-to-hip ratio. What are the advantages of using this method? What are the disadvantages of using this method? How we reviewed this article: Sources. Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations.

We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy. Feb waist-tk-hip, Written By Stephanie Watson, Rachel Nall, MSN, CRNA.

Nov 18, Medically Reviewed By Angela M. Bell, MD, FACP. Share this article. Read this next. What Is a Calorie Deficit, and How Much of One Is Healthy? By Gavin Van De Walle, MS, RD.

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: Optimal waist-to-hip ratio

Waist to Hip Ratio Calculator	Sign up to get tips for living a healthy lifestyle, with ways to fight inflammation and improve cognitive health , plus the latest advances in preventative medicine, diet and exercise , pain relief, blood pressure and cholesterol management, and more. Get helpful tips and guidance for everything from fighting inflammation to finding the best diets for weight loss from exercises to build a stronger core to advice on treating cataracts. PLUS, the latest news on medical advances and breakthroughs from Harvard Medical School experts. Sign up now and get a FREE copy of the Best Diets for Cognitive Fitness. Stay on top of latest health news from Harvard Medical School. Recent Blog Articles. Flowers, chocolates, organ donation — are you in? What is a tongue-tie? What parents need to know. Which migraine medications are most helpful? How well do you score on brain health? Shining light on night blindness. Can watching sports be bad for your health? Beyond the usual suspects for healthy resolutions. January 1, By Matthew Solan , Executive Editor, Harvard Men's Health Watch Reviewed by Howard E. LeWine, MD , Chief Medical Editor, Harvard Health Publishing A person's waist-to-hip ratio may be a better tool than body mass index BMI for predicting chronic health problems, according to a study published online Sept. Research health conditions Check your symptoms Prepare for a doctor's visit or test Find the best treatments and procedures for you Explore options for better nutrition and exercise Learn more about the many benefits and features of joining Harvard Health Online ». Sign Me Up. About the Author. People who store most of their fat in their middle section, as found in apple-shaped body types, are often at a much higher risk of developing chronic health problems and postural imbalance than individuals having a lower waist to hip ratio. Pear and hourglass body shapes with a low waist-to-hip ratio are associated with better cardiovascular and reproductive health. They also are the most desirable measurements universally. Simple lifestyle modifications and healthy dietary habits are all one needs to cut down on the excess abdominal fat and ensure a fitted waist to hip ratio to keep health problems at bay. We can directly link the WHR ratio to weight gain or weight loss. While it is not practical to completely change our body type, it is a good idea to maintain a low WHR ratio. The purpose is not just aesthetic but mainly medical. Even if you decide to measure and track the ratio at home, always consult an expert before making significant lifestyle changes. Our sleep cycles, eating patterns, exercise routines, and other demographic factors play a role. For males, it is 0. Anything above it puts one at a higher risk of health problems. A waist to hip ratio of 0. But it is still essential that one keeps a close check on their lifestyle and dietary habits to live a healthy life. The ideal waist to hip ratio for females is between 0. While ratios between 0. The usage of corsets and waist trainers often brings the waist to hip ratios down to 0. Such a low waist to hip ratio hampers the proper functioning of vital organs in our bodies leading to serious health issues. Ratios between 0. However, whether a person has an hourglass shape also depends on the waist to chest ratio and not just on WHR. Usually, we consider hip sizes above 36 or 37 inches curvy and hip sizes below 34 to be a slim silhouette. Also, the waist-to-hip ratios of curvy individuals are often in the range of 0. Mathematically, the golden ratio is set at 1: 1. Hence the golden ratio is not set as the gold standard for measuring waist to hip ratios. Instead, the ratio of 0. There is no particular hip size that is the most attractive. Instead, hip sizes about 1. For example, for a person having a waist circumference between 24 to 28 inches, a hip size of 36 inches would be regarded as the most attractive. The ideal waist size differs from person to person based on bone structure, height, age, and gender. However, studies show that the ideal waist size for women is less than 35 inches and that for men is less than 40 inches. Staying within this range puts one at a lower risk of developing obesity-related health problems. A person with a healthy BMI might also have excess fat stored in their abdominal region. Waist to hip ratio is thus essential as it gives us a better idea of the amount of abdominal or visceral fats in our bodies. A waist circumference of more than 35 inches in women and a circumference of more than 40 inches in men is considered obese. It correlates with a BMI of Here's why. New research finds that bariatric surgery is an effective long-term treatment to help control high blood pressure. A Quiz for Teens Are You a Workaholic? How Well Do You Sleep? Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. What Is the Waist-to-Hip Ratio? Medically reviewed by Angela M. Bell, MD, FACP — By Stephanie Watson and Rachel Nall, MSN, CRNA — Updated on February 2, Calculate Advantages of WHR Disadvantages of WHR Takeaway The waist-to-hip ratio WHR calculation is one way your doctor can see if excess weight is putting your health at risk. Health risk Women Men low 0. Ways to calculate your waist-to-hip ratio. What are the advantages of using this method? What are the disadvantages of using this method? How we reviewed this article: Sources. Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy. Feb 2, Written By Stephanie Watson, Rachel Nall, MSN, CRNA. Nov 18, Medically Reviewed By Angela M. Bell, MD, FACP. Share this article. Read this next. What Is a Calorie Deficit, and How Much of One Is Healthy? By Gavin Van De Walle, MS, RD.
Why waist-to-hip ratio might be a better health measurement than BMI	This should be where the waist is smallest. Be careful not to pull the tape measure too tight, and remember to record the waist measurement before moving on to the hips. To measure the circumference of their hips, stand up straight and wrap a tape measure around the widest part of the hips. Take the measurement where the ends of the tape measure overlap, again do not pull it too tight. To calculate the WHR, divide the first measurement waist circumference by the second measurement hip circumference. Measurements can be recorded in either centimeters cm or inches in without affecting the ratio. According to the World Health Organization WHO , having a WHR of over 1. This may be the case even if other measures of being overweight, such as body mass index BMI are in normal range. The following chart shows how the WHO classify the risk of being affected by weight related health conditions according to WHR:. As well as using WHR to indicate how likely someone is to develop certain health conditions; it may also be used to indicate obesity. According to WHO :. If a person has a high WHR and is carrying excess weight around their waist, they may be concerned about the related health risks. To reduce these risks, it is a good idea to try to lose weight. The best way to lose weight is to consume fewer calories than are burned, usually by eating less and exercising more. Eating a healthful diet, reducing portion size, and exercising several times a week is a good place to start. A study found that a diet high in fruit and dairy and low in white bread, processed meat, margarine, and soft drinks may help reduce abdominal fat. A doctor or nutritionist can provide further advice on how to lose weight. People may take inaccurate measurements or make a mistake when doing the calculation. In addition, if someone has a high BMI or is less than 5 feet tall, their WHR may be less meaningful. It is important to note that a WHR is not designed to measure the health of children and should only be used for adults. However, as a WHR can be measured inaccurately, it should not be relied on as a sole measure of obesity or health risk. Talking to the doctor about weight and any associated health risks is always the best way to get a more complete picture. Want to lose those excess pounds? This study may offer some encouragement, after finding that the effects of being overweight may have been…. Metabolic syndrome is a condition that includes various health issues. It is linked to obesity, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, and type…. Find out what the average American woman weighs and obesity rates are for women globally. We also look at how weight can be measured and controlled…. To find their ideal weight, an individual must look at a number of factors, including gender and activity level. Learn how to find your healthy weight. Body fat scales can be an easy way to track body composition, but research debates their accuracy. Here, learn about body fat scales and the best…. My podcast changed me Can 'biological race' explain disparities in health? Why Parkinson's research is zooming in on the gut Tools General Health Drugs A-Z Health Hubs Health Tools Find a Doctor BMI Calculators and Charts Blood Pressure Chart: Ranges and Guide Breast Cancer: Self-Examination Guide Sleep Calculator Quizzes RA Myths vs Facts Type 2 Diabetes: Managing Blood Sugar Ankylosing Spondylitis Pain: Fact or Fiction Connect About Medical News Today Who We Are Our Editorial Process Content Integrity Conscious Language Newsletters Sign Up Follow Us. Medical News Today. Health Conditions Health Products Discover Tools Connect. Why is the hip-waist ratio important? Use profiles to select personalised advertising. Create profiles to personalise content. Use profiles to select personalised content. Measure advertising performance. Measure content performance. Understand audiences through statistics or combinations of data from different sources. Develop and improve services. Use limited data to select content. List of Partners vendors. By Michelle Pugle. Michelle Pugle. Michelle Pugle is a freelance health writer featured in Healthline, Health, Everyday Health, Psych Central, and Verywell. health's editorial guidelines. Fact checked by Nick Blackmer. Nick Blackmer is a librarian, fact-checker, and researcher with more than 20 years of experience in consumer-facing health and wellness content. health's fact checking process. Trending Videos. A new study suggests waist-to-hip ratio WHR may be a more accurate indicator of health and risk of illness than BMI or body mass index. In the study, a lower WHR was associated with overall better health outcome. Experts explain the differences between BMI and WHR including how to measure at home. What Is Body Composition? BMI Not Always a Good Indicator of Metabolic Health, Study Shows. How to Calculate Your Body Fat Percentage. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! com uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Related Articles. Newsletter Sign Up. You may accept or manage your choices by clicking below, including your right to object where legitimate interest is used, or at any time in the privacy policy page. These choices will be signaled to our partners and will not affect browsing data.
Helpful Links	This study may offer some encouragement, after finding that the effects of being overweight may have been…. Metabolic syndrome is a condition that includes various health issues. It is linked to obesity, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, and type…. Find out what the average American woman weighs and obesity rates are for women globally. We also look at how weight can be measured and controlled…. To find their ideal weight, an individual must look at a number of factors, including gender and activity level. Learn how to find your healthy weight. Body fat scales can be an easy way to track body composition, but research debates their accuracy. Here, learn about body fat scales and the best…. My podcast changed me Can 'biological race' explain disparities in health? Why Parkinson's research is zooming in on the gut Tools General Health Drugs A-Z Health Hubs Health Tools Find a Doctor BMI Calculators and Charts Blood Pressure Chart: Ranges and Guide Breast Cancer: Self-Examination Guide Sleep Calculator Quizzes RA Myths vs Facts Type 2 Diabetes: Managing Blood Sugar Ankylosing Spondylitis Pain: Fact or Fiction Connect About Medical News Today Who We Are Our Editorial Process Content Integrity Conscious Language Newsletters Sign Up Follow Us. Medical News Today. Health Conditions Health Products Discover Tools Connect. Why is the hip-waist ratio important? Medically reviewed by Daniel Bubnis, M. How to calculate waist-to-hip ratio What is a healthy ratio? Impact on health How to improve the ratio Considerations Conclusion Waist-to-hip ratio, also known as waist-hip ratio, is the circumference of the waist divided by the circumference of the hips. How to calculate waist-to-hip ratio. Share on Pinterest Waist circumference should be measured just above the belly button. What is a healthy ratio? Share on Pinterest The hips should be measured at the widest part of the hips. Impact on health. How to improve the ratio. Share on Pinterest Reducing portion size and exercising regularly are recommended to improve waist-to-hip ratio. How we reviewed this article: Sources. Despite being a flawed measure , BMI is widely used today in the medical community because it is an inexpensive and quick method for analyzing potential health status and outcomes. A health care professional may calculate WHR at an appointment, but you can also measure it yourself at home. You will need a calculator and a flexible tape measure that can wrap around your body. Here's how to measure WHR:. To measure your WHR correctly, you should remove any bulky clothing that can add padding around your abdomen. The WHO says that the accuracy of WHR measurements depends on the tightness of the measuring tape. It should be snug around the body, but not pulled so tight that it is constricting. The World Health Organization has established guidelines when assessing WHR and says that a healthy WHR cut-off level is 0. The World Health Organization WHO recommends keeping your waist to hip ratio below 1 to reduce your risk. The risk is different depending on whether you are male or female and ranges from low to high. Let's walk through an example together so you can see how WHR works. Meet Anne. Using a flexible tape measure, Anne measures her waist at the most narrow part near her navel. The waist measurement is 30 inches. Next, Anne measures her hips at the widest part and records 38 inches. She will now use her calculator to divide her waist measurement by her hip measurement to determine her WHR. Anne's WHR is 0. Anne falls in the normal range because her WHR is less than 0. Here is another example with a man named Mark. His waist measurement is 43 inches and his hip measurement is 42 inches. When comparing Mark's WHR of 1. To protect his health, Mark can work with a doctor and a dietitian to learn more about other health parameters, such as blood pressure and blood sugar levels, eating habits, exercise and sleep patterns, which all affect health. WHR is just one measure of health—not the only aspect that matters. One downfall of the WHR is that is was originally calculated in people of European origin, so it may not account for differences in body composition in other ethnic and cultural groups globally. While WHR is just one measure of an individual's health, there are a few ways to use the metric for the benefit of your overall wellness. Before you embark on lifestyle changes, check with a doctor to assess your blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels, and check for any vitamin or mineral deficiencies. Those can also impact the changes that need to be made to improve overall health. If your usual eating habits include meals filled with ultra-processed and fast foods that are high in calories, fat, salt and sugar, there's likely room for improvement. Start by adding more vegetables and fruit to daily meals and snacks. One study specifically found that a diet high in fruit and low in white bread, processed meat, margarine, and soft drinks may help prevent abdominal fat accumulation. The CDC recommends that adults aim for at least minutes of physical activity per week, split up over at least five days. Choose a mix of cardiovascular activity such as walking, cycling and swimming , and strength training such as lifting weights. Remember, WHR is just one measure of disease risk, but it's certainly not the only one. Use it as one tool in your toolbox, and check with a doctor or dietitian for a more fulsome health assessment. Per the World Health Organization, a healthy WHR is 0. Wrap a tape measure around the narrowest part of your waist, near or above your belly button. Note the measurement in inches. Next, stand with your feet directly beneath your hips and wrap the tape around the widest part of your hips and buttocks. For example, a pound man sitting in a chair burns 18 calories every 10 minutes. If he gets up to sweep, vacuum, or go for a walk, he will burn up to three times the calories. When done regularly, even in short bursts through the day, light activity adds up to more calorie burn than you might imagine. Here are the minute calorie burn rates for 18 commonly used light and moderate activities. Waist-to-Hip Ratio and BMI. Waist and hip measurements identify excess body fat and the need for weight loss. Once you know you need to lose weight, you can also use body mass index BMI research data for setting your goals. The risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis, chronic pain, disability, and other conditions were all studied by BMI. Find out your target weight to lower your health risks in this article on body mass index. Related articles from Fit For Your Life, the masterclass series. Metabolic Equivalent MET. Fine tune your lifestyle for a longer life expectancy and more calorie burn using the activities you enjoy. Create effective training programs from daily life activities, sports, leisure activities, and cardio exercise. Waist circumference. If you find yourself losing inches when you're trying to lose weight, you may be benefitting more than you realize. Find out how much you can improve your healthy longevity with a waist less than half your height or a waist visibly smaller than your hips. Body mass index BMI. Learning the health advantages of different sizes and weight groups can help you zero in on what you want for yourself. Take a step toward optimal health with weight goals you can commit to achieving. Sex Differences in the Association Between Measures of General and Central Adiposity and the Risk of Myocardial Infarction: Results From the UK Biobank. J Am Heart Assoc. doi: PMID: ; PMCID: PMC et al. New indexes of body fat distribution and sex-specific risk of total and cause-specific mortality: a prospective cohort study. BMC Public Health 18, Comparing Anthropometric Indicators of Visceral and General Adiposity as Determinants of Overall and Cardiovascular Mortality. Arch Iran Med. Combined Influence of Waist and Hip Circumference on Risk of Death in a Large Cohort of European and Australian Adults. Epub Jun Surrogate Adiposity Markers and Mortality. JAMA Netw Open. Waist circumference as a vital sign in clinical practice: a Consensus Statement from the IAS and ICCR Working Group on Visceral Obesity. Nat Rev Endocrinol. Epub Feb 4. Mean body weight, height, waist circumference, and body mass index among children and adolescents: United States, —
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Optimal waist-to-hip ratio -

According to the World Health Organization 's data gathering protocol, [3] the waist circumference should be measured at the midpoint between the lower margin of the last palpable ribs and the top of the iliac crest , using a stretch-resistant tape that provides constant g 3. Hip circumference should be measured around the widest portion of the buttocks, with the tape parallel to the floor.

The United States National Institutes of Health and the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey used results obtained by measuring at the top of the iliac crest.

Waist measurements are usually obtained by laypersons by measurings around the waist at the navel , but research has shown that these measurements may underestimate the true waist circumference.

For both measurements, the individual should stand with feet close together, arms at the side and body weight evenly distributed, and should wear little clothing. The subject should be relaxed, and the measurements should be taken at the end of a normal respiration. Each measurement should be repeated twice; if the measurements are within 1 cm of one another, the average should be calculated.

If the difference between the two measurements exceeds 1 cm, the two measurements should be repeated. Practically, however, the waist is more conveniently measured simply at the smallest circumference of the natural waist, usually just above the belly button, and the hip circumference may likewise be measured at its widest part of the buttocks or hip.

The WHR has been used as an indicator or measure of health, and as a risk factor for developing serious health conditions. WHR is used as a measurement of obesity , which in turn is a possible indicator of other more serious health conditions. The WHO states that abdominal obesity is defined as a waist—hip ratio above 0.

Of these three measurements, only the waist—hip ratio takes account of the differences in body structure. Hence, it is possible for two people of the same sex to have different body mass indices but the same waist—hip ratio, or to have the same body mass index but different waist—hip ratios.

WHR has been shown to be a better predictor of cardiovascular disease than simple waist circumference and body-mass index. The stress hormone cortisol is regulated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal HPA axis and has been associated with higher levels of abdominal fat and therefore a higher WHR.

The greater the number of cortisol receptors, the more sensitive the visceral fat tissue is to cortisol. This heightened sensitivity to cortisol stimulates fat cells to further increase in size.

Evidence for the relationship between cortisol and central fat distribution has primarily been studied in individuals with Cushing's syndrome.

A primary component of Cushing's syndrome is the accumulation of fat in the abdominal region, and it is hypothesized that elevated cortisol levels contribute to this accumulation. However, this hypothesis remains contested as cortisol levels only modestly explain variation in central fat distribution.

It is more likely that a complex set of biological and neuroendocrine pathways related to cortisol secretion contribute to central adiposity, such as leptin , neuropeptide y , corticotropin releasing factor and the sympathetic nervous system.

In general, adults with growth hormone deficiencies also have increased WHRs. Increased adipose deposits are therefore more likely to form in these individuals, causing the high WHR. Growth hormone deficiencies have also been correlated with WHRs in prepubertal children; the specific baseline body statistics, such as WHRs, of pre-pubertal children with growth hormone deficiencies can predict growth response effectiveness to artificial growth hormone therapies, such as rhGH treatments.

Males with congenital adrenal hyperplasia , determined by CYP21A2 mutations, have increased WHRs. Women with high WHR 0. One of the factors that affects a woman's waist-hip ratio is her gynoid fat distribution , a store of energy to be expended in the nurturing of offspring, both to provide adequate energy resources during pregnancy and for the infant during the stage in which they are breastfeeding.

This can be seen in the fact that a female's waist—hip ratio is at its optimal minimum during times of peak fertility—late adolescence and early adulthood, before increasing later in life.

As a female's capacity for reproduction comes to an end, the fat distribution within the female body begins a transition from the gynoid type to more of an android type distribution. This is evidenced by the percentages of android fat being far higher in post-menopausal than pre-menopausal women.

Evidence suggests that WHR is an accurate somatic indicator of reproductive endocrinological status and long-term health risk. Among girls with identical body weights, those with lower WHRs show earlier pubertal endocrine activity, as measured by high levels of lutenizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone, as well as sex steroid estradiol activity.

A Dutch prospective study on outcome in an artificial insemination program provides evidence for the role of WHR and fecundity. Menopause , the natural or surgical cessation of the menstrual cycle, is due to an overall decrease in ovarian production of the hormones estradiol and progesterone.

These hormonal changes are also associated with an increase in WHR independent of increases in body mass. Using data from the U. National Center for Health Statistics , William Lassek at the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania and Steven Gaulin of the University of California, Santa Barbara found a child's performance in cognitive tests correlated to their mother's waist—hip ratio, a proxy for how much fat she stores on her hips.

Children whose mothers had wide hips and a low waist—hip ratio scored highest, leading Lassek and Gaulin to suggest that fetuses benefit from hip fat, which contains long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids , critical for the development of the fetus's brain.

WHR is considered as one of the three determinants of female attractiveness, the other two being body mass index BMI , and curviness.

Some researchers have found that the waist—hip ratio is a significant measure of female attractiveness. It appears that men in westernized societies are more influenced by female waist size than hip size: "Hip size indicates pelvic size and the amount of additional fat storage that can be used as a source of energy.

Waist size conveys information such as current reproductive status or health status in westernized societies with no risk of seasonal lack of food, the waist, conveying information about fecundity and health status, will be more important than hip size for assessing a female's attractiveness".

By western standards, women in foraging populations have high numbers of pregnancies, high parasite loads, and high caloric dependence on fibrous foods. These variables change across cultures, suggesting that:. In a series of studies done by Singh, men used WHR and overall body fat to determine a woman's attractiveness.

In his first study, men were shown a series of 12 drawings of women with various WHRs and body fat. Drawings with normal weight and a low WHR were associated with the most positive traits i.

attractive, sexy, intelligent and healthy. The drawings of thin female figures were not associated with any positive traits except youthfulness. Through this study, Singh suggests that males and females may have developed innate mechanisms which detect and make use of the WHR to assess how healthy an individual is and particularly for men , infer possible mate value.

Other studies discovered WHR as a signal of attractiveness as well, beyond just examining body fat and fertility. Barnaby Dixson, Gina Grimshaw, Wayne Linklater, and Alan Dixson conducted a study using eye-tracking techniques to evaluate men's fixation on digitally altered photographs of the same woman, as well as asking the men to evaluate the images based on attractiveness.

What they found was while men fixated on the woman's breasts in each photo, they selected the images where the woman had a 0. Furthermore, referencing a study conducted by Johnson and Tassinary looking at animated human walking stimuli, Farid Pazhoohi and James R. Liddle proposed that men do not solely use WHR to evaluate attractiveness, but also a means of sex-differentiation, with higher WHR perceived as more masculine and lower WHR as an indicator of femininity.

Pazhoohi and Liddle used this idea as a possible additional explanation as to why men perceive a lower WHR as more attractive — because it relates to an expression of femininity, as opposed to masculinity and a higher WHR.

To enhance their perceived attractiveness, some women may artificially alter their apparent WHR. The methods include the use of a corset to reduce the waist size and hip and buttock padding to increase the apparent size of the hips and buttocks.

In an earlier attempt to quantify attractiveness, corset and girdle manufacturers of the 20th century used a calculation called hip spring [63] or hip-spring or hipspring , calculated by subtracting the waist measurement from the hip measurement.

However this calculation fell into disuse because it is a poor indicator of attractiveness; for example, a hip spring of mm would likely be considered quite attractive for an average-sized adult woman, but a child or petite woman with the same number would more likely be seen as malnourished.

WHR versus BMI attractiveness is related to fertility, not fat content. A study performed by Holliday used computer generated female body shapes to construct images which covary with real female body mass indexed with BMI and not with body shape indexed with WHR , and vice versa.

Twelve observers 6 male and 6 female rated these images for attractiveness during an fMRI study. The attractiveness ratings were correlated with changes in BMI and not WHR. The results demonstrated that in addition to activation in higher visual areas, changes to BMI had a direct impact on activity within the brain's reward system.

This shows that BMI, not WHR, modulates reward mechanisms in the brain and that this may have important implications for judgements of ideal body size in eating-disordered individuals. Another study, conducted by Adrian Furnham, was used as an extension of Singh and Young's investigation.

A total of participants were in the study. There were 98 female participants. The age range was between 16 and Their educational and socio-economic backgrounds nearly all middle class were fairly homogenous, and none had previously participated in any studies involving female body shape or attractiveness.

It was predicted that the effect of breast size on judgment of attractiveness and age estimation would be dependent on overall body fat and the size of the waist-to-hip ratio. All the participants were given a booklet with eight pictures in total.

Each figure was identified as heavy or slender, feminine WHR or masculine WHR, and large-breasted or small-breasted. When ratings of the figures' attractiveness were made, generally it appeared that bust size, WHR, and their weight were all important contributory elements.

The female participants rated the figures with a low WHR as more attractive, healthy, feminine-looking, and in the case of the heavy figure, more kind and understanding than did male participants. This is a particularly interesting finding, as most previous studies report that young women idealize female bodies solely on the basis of thinness.

As far as the breast sizes of the slender figures is concerned, whether they had large or small breasts did not appear to have any effect on the ratings of attractiveness or kindness or understanding, and having larger breasts only increased the mean ratings of health and femininity very slightly.

However, a heavy figure with a high WHR and a large bust was rated as the least attractive and healthy by all participants. Waist—hip ratio is also a reliable cue to one's sex and it is hypothesised that the "individuals who represent a mismatch based on the cue provided by WHR e.

A University of Wroclaw study of around one thousand women across different cultures—designed to address the conflicting theories—concluded that an attractive WHR is not a predictor of peak fertility, but actually a predictor of the onset of fertility and therefore a predictor of maximal long term reproductive potential and minimal chance of raising a competing male's children.

Research has found waist-to-chest ratio to be the largest determinant of male attractiveness, with body mass index and waist-to-hip ratio not as significant. A number of studies have been carried out with focus on food composition of diets in relation to changes in waist circumference adjusted for body mass index.

Whole-grain, ready-to-eat, oat cereal diets reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and waist circumference in overweight or obese adults more than low-fibre control food diets. Weight loss did not vary between groups.

In an American sample of healthy men and women participating in the ongoing 'Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging', the mean annual increase [with age] in waist circumference was more than 3 times as great for the participants in the white-bread cluster compared with the participants using a diet that is high in fruit, vegetables, reduced-fat dairy and whole grains and is low in red or processed meat, fast food and soft drink.

A study suggests that a dietary pattern high in fruit and dairy and low in white bread, processed meat, margarine, and soft drinks may help to prevent abdominal fat accumulation.

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Download as PDF Printable version. In other projects. Wikimedia Commons. The Venus de Milo has a WHR value of 0. Obesity Epidemiology Overweight Underweight Body shape Weight gain Weight loss Gestational weight gain Diet nutrition Weight management Overnutrition Childhood obesity Epidemiology.

Medical concepts. Adipose tissue Classification of obesity Genetics of obesity Metabolic syndrome Epidemiology of metabolic syndrome Metabolically healthy obesity Obesity paradox Set point theory. Body adiposity index Body mass index Body fat percentage Body Shape Index Corpulence index Lean body mass Relative Fat Mass Waist—hip ratio Waist-to-height ratio.

Related conditions. Obesity-associated morbidity. Arteriosclerosis Atherosclerosis Fatty liver disease GERD Gynecomastia Heart disease Hypertension Obesity and cancer Osteoarthritis Prediabetes Sleep apnea Type 2 diabetes. Management of obesity.

The best way to lose weight is to consume fewer calories than are burned, usually by eating less and exercising more. Eating a healthful diet, reducing portion size, and exercising several times a week is a good place to start. A study found that a diet high in fruit and dairy and low in white bread, processed meat, margarine, and soft drinks may help reduce abdominal fat.

A doctor or nutritionist can provide further advice on how to lose weight. People may take inaccurate measurements or make a mistake when doing the calculation. In addition, if someone has a high BMI or is less than 5 feet tall, their WHR may be less meaningful.

It is important to note that a WHR is not designed to measure the health of children and should only be used for adults. However, as a WHR can be measured inaccurately, it should not be relied on as a sole measure of obesity or health risk.

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Medical News Today. Health Conditions Health Products Discover Tools Connect. Why is the hip-waist ratio important? Medically reviewed by Daniel Bubnis, M. How to calculate waist-to-hip ratio What is a healthy ratio?

Impact on health How to improve the ratio Considerations Conclusion Waist-to-hip ratio, also known as waist-hip ratio, is the circumference of the waist divided by the circumference of the hips.

How to calculate waist-to-hip ratio. Share on Pinterest Waist circumference should be measured just above the belly button. What is a healthy ratio? Share on Pinterest The hips should be measured at the widest part of the hips.

Impact on health. How to improve the ratio. Share on Pinterest Reducing portion size and exercising regularly are recommended to improve waist-to-hip ratio. How we reviewed this article: Sources. Medical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations.

We avoid using tertiary references.

Which Mood enhancing techniques Best for Assessing Cardiac Risk? Almost Optimal waist-to-hip ratio knows by wqist-to-hip Recovery for athletes waist-to-hi overweight or Recovery for athletes substantially increases raito risk of developing cardiovascular disease, including coronary artery disease CADheart attackand stroke. The three most commonly used measures are BMI body mass indexwaist circumference, and waist-to-hip ratio. But is one better than the others? The measure most commonly used to assess weight-related risk is BMI, a ratio calculated from your weight and height. Specifically, your BMI equals your body in kilograms divided by your height squared in meters.