About Waist-to-Height Ratio
The Waist-to-Height Ratio (WHtR) is largely considered one of the robust screening tools for metabolic risk. The premise is simple: your waist circumference should be less than half your height. This scaling works well across different ethnicities and ages.
Scientific Basis
WHtR corrects the waist circumference for the individual's body size. A systematic review (Ashwell et al., 2012) found WHtR to be a better predictor of cardiovascular risk factors than BMI.
Health Implications
Keeping your ratio below 0.5 helps prevent the cluster of conditions known as Metabolic Syndrome (high blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat around the waist, and abnormal cholesterol levels).
Actionable Tips
The String Test: Cut a string to your height. Fold it in half. If it doesn't fit around your waist, your ratio is likely > 0.5.
Reduce Refined Carbs: White rice and flour are primary drivers of abdominal weight gain.
Limitations
Like other anthropometric measures, it doesn't measure fat directly but uses circumference as a proxy.