Knowing where your body carries fat is important in understanding your risk of various diseases. People who carry their fat in the abdominal region (“apple-shaped obesity”) have greater health risks than those who carry fat primarily in the hips and thighs (“pear shaped”)

A waist girth of >35 inches in females and >40 inches in males indicates increased risk and need for weight loss.

Calculating Waist/Hip Ratio

To calculate your waist/hip ratio, divide your waist measurement ( women – measured at the narrowest part of the torso; if not visible, use your navel. Men – measured at the navel) in inches by the hip measurement (widest part of hips or buttocks) in inches. General classification of increased risk is defined as the following:

• Men = WHR> 1.0
• Women = WHR> 0.8

Sources: ACSM’s Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription, 6 th Ed., 2000 and ACSM’s Resource Manual for Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription, 4 th Ed., 2001