Not all excess weight is the same when it comes to your health risks. People who carry more weight around their midsection (an apple-shaped body) are at higher risk for heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and premature death than those who carry more of their weight in their hips and thighs (a pear-shaped body). Even if your BMI is within a normal range, your risk for disease may be increased.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a healthy WHR is:
0.9 or less in men
0.85 or less for women
In both men and women, a WHR of 1.0 or higher increases the risk for heart disease and other conditions that are linked to being overweight.
Waist-to-hip ratio chart
Health risk Women Men
Low 0.80 or lower 0.95 or lower
Moderate 0.81–0.85 0.96–1.0
High 0.86 or higher 1.0 or higher
