Body composition

The measure that beats BMI.

Keep your waist to less than half your height. One tape measure, one ratio, better evidence than weight alone.

What this tool is

This tool divides your waist measurement by your height and tells you which risk band that ratio falls into. It also shows half your height, which is the practical waist target most guidance uses.

Takes: About 2 minutes
You need: A tape measure, Your height

What you get

Your waist-to-height ratio
Your band: low, healthy, increased, or further increased
Half your height, as a waist target in centimetres
A short note on what that band does and does not mean

How to use it

01Measure your waist at the midpoint between your lowest rib and the top of your hip bone.
02Breathe out normally and keep the tape snug without compressing the skin.
03Enter your waist and height in the same units.
04Compare the ratio against the half-your-height figure shown.

Enter your height and waist measurement to see your ratio.

What this cannot tell you

This ratio describes central fat, not total health. It does not distinguish muscle from fat elsewhere, and it is not a diagnosis. Measurement technique matters: measure at the midpoint between your lowest rib and the top of your hip bone.

Sources

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