Measure Your Waist-to-Hip Ratio

Learn about this easy and effective way to measure your fitness.

Waist-to-Hip Ratio (WHR) is an easy-to-do measurement of your fitness. In fact, according to research, your WHR is more likely to calculate your risk of a heart attack than the Body Mass Index (BMI). It takes into consideration the width of your waist relative to your hips to determine whether or not you have a healthy body composition.

According to more and more research, especially that done by Cambridge University in England, individuals carrying a higher precentage of weight in their midsection, which would give a high WHR, are at a greater risk for developing diabetes, stroke, heart disease and hormonal imbalances. People who carry a higher percentage of weight around their hips (giving them a lower WHR) are less likely to develop these problems.

Calculating Your Waist-to-Hip Ratio

1. Use a measuring tape to measure your hips at the widest part of your buttocks. Then use the measuring tape to measure your waist at the smallest point, usually just above your belly button. Record the measurements in inches.

2. To determine your WHR divide your waist measurement in inches by your hip measurement in inches, eg. 30"/40" = 0.75

What Does Your Waist-to-Hip Ratio Mean?

Your WHR is simply a guideline to help you quantify your body’s shape. Most importantly, it can indicate whether or not your body fat is in need of adjustment. If your ratio is in the moderate risk category I would encourage you to consider cleaning up your diet in order to reduce your body fat by following The Eat-Clean Diet® Stripped. If you are in the high risk category look to The Eat-Clean Diet® Recharged! for permanent dietary changes. The lifestyle changes offered in these books will help you lose your body fat and bring your WHR into the low risk range. Use your WHR to assess your progress by measuring and recording it every month in your Eat-Clean Diet® Workout Journal!