Waist to Height Ratio Calculator: Complete Guide to WHtR

What is Waist to Height Ratio?

Waist to height ratio (WHtR) is a body measurement that compares your waist circumference to your height. Unlike waist to hip ratio (WHR), which compares two circumferences, WHtR relates your waist size to your overall body frame as represented by height.

The concept behind WHtR is elegantly simple: your waist should be less than half your height. This principle, known as the "keep your waist to less than half your height" rule, applies universally to men, women, and children of all ages and ethnicities.

WHtR has gained popularity in recent years as research demonstrates its effectiveness as a predictor of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and other obesity-related conditions. Many health professionals now consider it a valuable addition to or even replacement for traditional BMI assessment.

The measurement is non-invasive, requires only a tape measure, and provides immediate, actionable information about health risk. Its simplicity makes it accessible for home health monitoring while its validity is supported by substantial scientific evidence.

The WHtR Formula

Calculating waist to height ratio requires only two measurements and simple division:

Both measurements must be in the same units for the calculation to work. Whether you use inches, centimeters, or any other unit, the result will be the same as long as both measurements use the same unit.

Calculation Examples

Example 1 (Imperial):
Waist: 32 inches, Height: 68 inches (5'8")
WHtR = 32 ÷ 68 = 0.47

Example 2 (Metric):
Waist: 80 cm, Height: 170 cm
WHtR = 80 ÷ 170 = 0.47

Example 3:
Waist: 38 inches, Height: 70 inches (5'10")
WHtR = 38 ÷ 70 = 0.54

You can use our waist-to-height ratio calculator to automatically compute your ratio and interpret your results.

WHtR Categories and Health Risk

WHtR values are interpreted using a simple category system that applies to both men and women:

The Golden Rule: Below 0.5

The key number to remember is 0.5. If your WHtR is at or below 0.5, your waist is no more than half your height, indicating healthy abdominal fat levels. This simple rule makes WHtR easy to remember and apply without needing charts or calculators for basic assessment.

Why 0.5?

The 0.5 cutoff emerged from research by Browning and Ashwell (2010) showing that health risks increase significantly when waist circumference exceeds half of height. This threshold has been validated across different populations, ages, and ethnicities, making it a robust universal standard.

Extended 6-Tier WHtR Categories

For a more granular assessment, researchers have proposed a six-tier classification system that provides finer distinctions between risk levels:

WHtR Risk Spectrum

The following visual represents the full WHtR risk spectrum from 0.3 to 0.7, showing how risk increases as the ratio climbs above the key 0.5 threshold:

How to Measure for WHtR

Accurate measurements are essential for meaningful WHtR assessment:

Measuring Your Waist

Measure your waist at the narrowest point (see our detailed measurement guide for precise instructions), typically at or slightly above your belly button. If there's no clearly defined narrowest point, measure at the level of your belly button. Keep the tape:

• Parallel to the floor
• Snug but not compressing your skin
• Against bare skin or over thin clothing

Breathe normally and take the measurement at the end of a relaxed exhale. Don't hold your breath or suck in your stomach.

Measuring Your Height

Measure your height without shoes, standing straight against a wall. Look straight ahead (not up or down). Have someone else take the measurement if possible, marking where the top of your head touches the wall and measuring from the floor to that mark.

If you know your height from a recent medical appointment, that measurement is likely accurate and can be used.

Unit Conversion

If your waist and height measurements are in different units, convert one before calculating:

• Inches to cm: multiply by 2.54
• Cm to inches: divide by 2.54
• Feet and inches to total inches: (feet × 12) + inches

WHtR vs WHR: Key Differences

Waist to height ratio (WHtR) and waist to hip ratio (WHR) are related but distinct measurements. Understanding their differences helps you choose which to use:

What They Measure

WHR compares waist circumference to hip circumference, indicating how fat is distributed between the midsection and lower body. It distinguishes between "apple" (abdominal) and "pear" (hip/thigh) body shapes.

WHtR compares waist circumference to overall body size (height), indicating whether abdominal fat is excessive relative to body frame. It doesn't account for fat distribution between waist and hips.

Gender Considerations

WHR uses different thresholds for men and women (0.90 vs 0.85) because of biological differences in where fat is typically stored.

WHtR uses the same threshold (0.5) for both genders, making it simpler to apply universally.

What They're Best For

WHR is excellent for assessing fat distribution pattern and is particularly useful when you want to understand whether you have an "apple" or "pear" body type.

WHtR is ideal for quick screening of abdominal obesity risk and works well as a universal health indicator across all demographics.

Using Both Together

WHR and WHtR provide complementary information. Someone could have healthy WHtR (small waist relative to height) but unhealthy WHR (waist large relative to hips). Using both measurements provides a more complete picture of body composition and health risk. See our WHR chart for the full risk category breakdown.

WHtR vs WHR vs BMI Head-to-Head

The following table compares all three common body composition metrics across key criteria, based on findings from Ashwell's 2012 meta-analysis and related research:

WHtR vs BMI

Comparing WHtR to Body Mass Index (BMI) reveals important strengths of each measurement:

What BMI Measures

BMI (weight ÷ height²) measures overall weight relative to height. It indicates whether someone is underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese based on their total body mass.

Limitations of BMI

BMI doesn't distinguish between muscle and fat. A muscular athlete might have "overweight" BMI despite having low body fat. Conversely, someone with normal BMI could have excess abdominal fat and associated health risks ("skinny fat").

BMI also doesn't indicate where fat is stored. Two people with identical BMI could have very different health risk profiles depending on their fat distribution.

Advantages of WHtR

Fat Location: WHtR specifically targets abdominal fat, which is the most metabolically dangerous type. It identifies health risk that BMI might miss in people with normal weight but excess belly fat.

Simplicity: The "waist less than half your height" rule is easy to remember and communicate.

Research Support: Multiple studies show WHtR is a better predictor of cardiovascular risk and diabetes than BMI. Read our full BMI vs WHR comparison for an in-depth analysis.

When to Use Each

Use BMI for overall weight status assessment and when comparing populations.

Use WHtR for abdominal obesity screening and individual health risk assessment.

Use both for comprehensive body composition evaluation.

Health Risks Associated with High WHtR

A WHtR above 0.5 indicates excess abdominal fat, which is associated with numerous health risks. For the full picture of how abdominal fat affects health, see our WHR health risks guide.

Cardiovascular Disease

High WHtR is strongly associated with heart disease and stroke. Abdominal fat produces inflammatory substances that damage blood vessels and promote atherosclerosis. Studies show that WHtR predicts cardiovascular events better than BMI.

Type 2 Diabetes

Excess abdominal fat interferes with insulin function, leading to insulin resistance and eventually type 2 diabetes. WHtR is an excellent predictor of diabetes risk, with risk increasing significantly above the 0.5 threshold.

Metabolic Syndrome

High WHtR is associated with metabolic syndrome, a cluster of conditions including high blood pressure, elevated blood sugar, abnormal cholesterol, and abdominal obesity that dramatically increase disease risk.

All-Cause Mortality

Research shows that higher WHtR is associated with increased risk of death from all causes. This relationship holds even after accounting for BMI and other risk factors.

WHtR for Different Age Groups

One advantage of WHtR is that the same basic principle applies across all ages:

Children and Adolescents

WHtR is particularly useful for assessing pediatric obesity because it doesn't require age-specific reference charts like BMI does. The "waist less than half height" rule applies to children, making it easy for parents to monitor. However, for young children (under 5), other growth metrics are typically more appropriate.

Adults

The standard WHtR categories (below 0.4 underweight, 0.4-0.5 healthy, 0.5-0.6 overweight, above 0.6 obese) apply throughout adulthood for both men and women.

Older Adults

WHtR remains valid for older adults, though some research suggests the optimal threshold may be slightly higher (around 0.52-0.53) for those over 70, as some additional fat mass may be protective in older age. However, the 0.5 threshold remains a reasonable target.

Calculating Your Target Waist Size

If your WHtR is above 0.5, you can calculate your target waist size for the healthy range:

Examples

Example 1: Height 5'8" (68 inches)
Target Waist = 68 × 0.5 = 34 inches

Example 2: Height 170 cm
Target Waist = 170 × 0.5 = 85 cm

Example 3: Height 5'4" (64 inches)
Target Waist = 64 × 0.5 = 32 inches

Target Waist for Common Heights

This gives you a concrete target. If your current waist exceeds this number, you know how many inches or centimeters you need to lose to reach the healthy WHtR range.

Improving Your WHtR

If your WHtR is above 0.5, these strategies can help you reach a healthier ratio:

Cardiovascular Exercise

Regular aerobic exercise burns calories and reduces abdominal fat. Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity cardio weekly. Activities like brisk walking, jogging, swimming, and cycling are effective.

High-Intensity Interval Training

HIIT alternates between intense effort and recovery periods. Research shows it's particularly effective at reducing visceral abdominal fat, often more so than steady-state cardio of longer duration.

Strength Training

Building muscle increases metabolic rate and supports long-term fat loss. Focus on compound exercises that work multiple muscle groups: squats, deadlifts, rows, and presses.

Dietary Modifications

• Reduce refined carbohydrates: White bread, pasta, and sugary foods promote insulin spikes and abdominal fat storage
• Increase protein: Protein promotes satiety and helps preserve muscle during weight loss
• Eat more fiber: Soluble fiber helps reduce visceral fat
• Limit alcohol: Alcohol contributes to abdominal fat ("beer belly")
• Control portions: Overall calorie balance matters for fat loss

Lifestyle Changes

• Manage stress: Chronic stress elevates cortisol, which promotes abdominal fat storage
• Sleep well: Poor sleep disrupts hormones that regulate hunger and fat storage
• Stay consistent: Sustainable habits produce lasting results

Tracking WHtR Progress

Regular monitoring helps you track improvement and stay motivated:

Measurement Frequency

Weekly waist measurements provide good feedback without becoming obsessive. Since height doesn't change (for adults), you only need to measure your waist regularly.

Consistency

Always measure under the same conditions: same time of day, same state of dress, same technique. Morning measurements before eating tend to be most consistent.

Track Trends

Day-to-day fluctuations are normal. Focus on the trend over weeks and months. A gradual decrease in WHtR indicates successful abdominal fat reduction.

Celebrate Progress

Each 0.01 decrease in WHtR represents meaningful progress. Moving from 0.55 to 0.50 might take months of consistent effort but represents significant health improvement.

WHtR Research Highlights

Scientific studies support WHtR as a valuable health indicator:

Systematic Reviews

A comprehensive review of 78 studies (Ashwell 2012) found that WHtR was a better discriminator of cardiovascular risk than BMI. The researchers concluded that WHtR should be considered as a screening tool in addition to or instead of BMI.

Diabetes Prediction

Multiple studies show WHtR is among the best anthropometric predictors of type 2 diabetes. Its predictive power often exceeds that of BMI and is comparable to more complex measurements.

Universal Application

Research across diverse populations (European, Asian, African, Hispanic) confirms that the 0.5 threshold works well across ethnic groups, unlike BMI cutoffs which may need adjustment for different populations.

Simplicity and Effectiveness

Studies consistently note that WHtR combines simplicity with effectiveness. The "half your height" rule is easy to communicate and remember while providing valid health information.

Limitations of WHtR

While valuable, WHtR has some limitations:

Doesn't Measure Fat Directly

Like other body measurements, WHtR estimates fat based on external dimensions rather than measuring fat tissue directly. Imaging techniques provide more precise fat quantification but aren't practical for routine screening.

Doesn't Capture Total Body Composition

WHtR focuses on abdominal fat relative to height but doesn't assess overall body fat percentage, muscle mass, or fat distribution in other areas.

Can't Distinguish Fat Types

Waist circumference includes both visceral fat (around organs) and subcutaneous fat (under skin). While both contribute to health risk, visceral fat is more dangerous, and WHtR can't distinguish between them.

Height Changes

Height decreases slightly with age due to spinal compression. This could artificially increase WHtR in older adults even without changes in waist size.

Summary

Waist to height ratio is a simple, universal health indicator with strong research support. The key points to remember:

• Formula: WHtR = Waist ÷ Height (same units)
• Golden rule: Keep your waist less than half your height (WHtR < 0.5)
• Universal: Same threshold applies to men, women, and all ages
• Valid: Strong predictor of cardiovascular disease and diabetes
• Actionable: Easy to calculate and track over time

Use our waist-to-height ratio calculator to compute your WHtR instantly. Combined with waist to hip ratio and other health metrics, WHtR provides valuable insight into your body composition and associated health risks.

The 0.5 Rule Explained

Of all the health screening thresholds in medicine, few are as elegant and universally applicable as the WHtR 0.5 rule: your waist circumference should be less than half your height. This single number, validated across dozens of studies and populations worldwide, captures a fundamental truth about how the human body stores dangerous fat.

The biological rationale is straightforward. In a healthy individual, visceral fat -- the metabolically active fat that surrounds internal organs -- scales proportionally with body size. Taller people naturally have larger abdominal cavities and slightly larger waist measurements. By expressing waist circumference as a ratio of height, WHtR automatically adjusts for body frame size. When that ratio exceeds 0.5, it signals that visceral fat has accumulated beyond what is proportional and healthy, regardless of how tall or short someone is.

This is precisely why Dr. Margaret Ashwell's landmark 2012 meta-analysis of 78 studies concluded that WHtR was the best anthropometric screening tool for cardiometabolic risk -- outperforming both BMI and waist circumference alone. The 0.5 threshold worked consistently across European, Asian, African, and Hispanic populations, across both sexes, and across age groups from children to the elderly. No other body composition metric offers this level of universality with a single cutoff.

What makes the 0.5 rule so powerful in practice is its simplicity. You only need to measure your height once (it does not change in adulthood), and then you have a permanent target: keep your waist below that number divided by two. A person who is 170 cm tall knows their waist should stay below 85 cm. Someone standing 5'10" (70 inches) should aim for a waist under 35 inches. There are no charts to consult, no age-adjusted percentiles to look up, and no separate thresholds for men versus women.

The Browning and Ashwell (2010) study further demonstrated that WHtR with the 0.5 boundary identified significantly more people at cardiometabolic risk who would have been missed by BMI alone. These individuals -- sometimes called "skinny fat" or metabolically obese normal weight -- carry excess visceral fat despite appearing slim by conventional weight standards. The 0.5 rule catches them because it looks at where fat is stored, not just how much total body mass someone has.

For ongoing health monitoring, this means you can track one simple number over time. Weekly waist measurements compared against your fixed target give you immediate, actionable feedback on whether your lifestyle is keeping visceral fat in check.

WHtR for Children and Adolescents

One of the most significant advantages of waist to height ratio over other body composition metrics is its applicability to pediatric populations. While BMI in children requires age-specific and sex-specific percentile charts -- because a "normal" BMI changes dramatically as children grow -- WHtR offers a far simpler alternative. The same 0.5 threshold that works for adults has been shown to be a valid screening tool for children aged five and older.

This simplicity matters enormously for pediatric screening. Parents do not need to look up CDC growth charts or calculate percentiles to understand whether their child's abdominal fat level is concerning. If a 10-year-old is 140 cm tall, their waist should be below 70 cm. If a 14-year-old stands 5'6" (66 inches), their waist should be under 33 inches. The math is immediate and the interpretation is clear.

Research supports this approach. Studies in British, European, and Asian pediatric populations have found that WHtR with a 0.5 cutoff effectively identifies children at elevated cardiometabolic risk, including those with higher blood pressure, unfavorable lipid profiles, and early markers of insulin resistance. Importantly, WHtR performs well across the wide range of body proportions seen during normal growth and development, because height naturally adjusts the expected waist measurement as children grow taller.

There are some nuances to consider for younger populations. Children under five are still undergoing rapid changes in body proportions, and WHtR has not been as thoroughly validated in this age group. For very young children, standard growth curves and pediatrician assessments remain the recommended approach. Additionally, during puberty, temporary shifts in body fat distribution are normal as hormonal changes reshape the body. A brief period above 0.5 during puberty is not necessarily cause for alarm, but a sustained elevated WHtR warrants attention.

Parents should be particularly concerned if their child's WHtR is consistently above 0.5, especially if it is trending upward over time. This may indicate accumulating visceral fat that could set the stage for metabolic problems later in life. Early intervention through increased physical activity and improved nutrition is most effective when started young, before unhealthy patterns become entrenched.

The universal applicability of the 0.5 rule extends to children of all ethnic backgrounds as well. Unlike BMI percentile charts, which were developed primarily from data on specific populations and may not translate perfectly across ethnicities, WHtR's height-adjusted threshold accounts for differences in body frame and proportions naturally. This makes it an especially valuable tool for diverse school screening programs and pediatric clinics serving multicultural communities.

WHtR for Children and Adolescents: Clinical Evidence

The case for using waist to height ratio in pediatric screening has strengthened considerably since the early 2000s. In 2006, McCarthy and Ashwell published a pivotal study validating WHtR in a large sample of British children aged 5 to 16. Their findings confirmed that the 0.5 boundary value effectively identified children with excess central adiposity across the entire age range, without needing age-specific or sex-specific reference tables. This was a major practical advantage over BMI percentiles, which require plotting each child's result on growth charts stratified by both age and sex.

The UK's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recognized this evidence. NICE Clinical Guideline CG189, which covers the identification, assessment, and management of overweight and obesity, recommends waist to height ratio as a useful early screening tool for children and adults alike. The guideline acknowledges that WHtR provides additional clinical information beyond what BMI alone can offer, particularly in identifying individuals with elevated central fat who might otherwise be classified as normal weight.

What makes WHtR particularly compelling for pediatric use is the elimination of chart-dependency. BMI in children is age-relative: a BMI of 18 means something entirely different in a 6-year-old than in a 14-year-old. Parents, teachers, and school nurses must look up percentiles on CDC or WHO growth charts to interpret a child's BMI correctly. With WHtR, the interpretation is immediate. A child whose waist exceeds half their height has a concerning level of central fat, full stop. This directness makes WHtR far more practical for large-scale screening programs in schools and community health settings.

McCarthy et al. also demonstrated that WHtR was better than BMI percentiles at identifying children who already showed early metabolic risk markers, including elevated blood pressure and unfavorable blood lipid profiles. Children with a WHtR above 0.5 were significantly more likely to have these preclinical warning signs, even when their BMI fell within the "normal" percentile range. This capacity to catch metabolically at-risk children who look normal by BMI standards is one of WHtR's most important clinical contributions.

For parents monitoring their children's health at home, the practical implications are clear. Measure your child's height and waist circumference periodically -- once every few months is sufficient for tracking trends. If the waist measurement is consistently greater than half the height, it warrants a conversation with your pediatrician about lifestyle adjustments. Early intervention through increased physical activity and improved dietary patterns is far more effective in childhood than attempting to reverse entrenched habits in adulthood. Our calculator works for children aged five and older using the same 0.5 threshold.

Comprehensive Target Waist by Height

Understanding your personal waist target is the most actionable takeaway from the WHtR framework. The table below expands on the basic target waist calculation by providing a detailed reference for ten common heights, including the exact WHtR value at each target. All targets are set at a WHtR of 0.49, which provides a small safety margin below the critical 0.5 threshold. This means that if your waist is at or below the target shown, you are comfortably in the healthy range.

These targets apply equally to men and women. A 5'5" woman and a 5'5" man share the same target waist of approximately 31.9 inches. This gender neutrality is one of WHtR's greatest practical strengths compared to waist to hip ratio, which requires separate thresholds for each sex, or to absolute waist circumference guidelines from the World Health Organization, which set different cutoffs for men (102 cm) and women (88 cm).

If your current waist measurement exceeds the target for your height, the gap tells you exactly how many inches or centimeters of waist reduction you need. For example, a person who is 5'9" with a 38-inch waist needs to reduce by approximately 4.2 inches to reach the 0.49 target. This concrete, personalized goal is far more motivating and actionable than an abstract BMI number. You can track your progress week by week using our waist to height ratio calculator, and see our ideal ratio guide for complementary targets.

It is worth noting that the target waist values in this table represent the upper boundary of the healthy zone. Individuals with a WHtR between 0.43 and 0.49 are in the optimal range according to the extended six-tier classification. If your waist is well below the target, there is no need to try to reduce it further, as long as your WHtR remains above 0.35, which marks the lower boundary of healthy body composition.

Clinical Adoption: Which Countries Use WHtR?

Despite strong evidence supporting waist to height ratio as a screening tool, its adoption into official clinical guidelines varies significantly around the world. Some health systems have embraced WHtR as a recommended assessment metric, while others continue to rely predominantly on BMI. The following overview summarizes the current state of WHtR adoption across major health systems.

The United Kingdom leads in formal clinical adoption. NICE guideline CG189 explicitly recommends using waist to height ratio alongside BMI for assessing and managing obesity in both adults and children. This recommendation, backed by systematic reviews published in the BMJ, positions WHtR as a standard part of the UK's obesity assessment toolkit. General practitioners across the NHS are encouraged to calculate WHtR during routine health checks, particularly when BMI alone may not capture a patient's true cardiometabolic risk.

Japan has integrated waist-based screening into its national health system through the annual "Metabo" checkups, introduced in 2008 for all adults aged 40 to 74. While these checkups primarily use absolute waist circumference thresholds (85 cm for men, 90 cm for women), the underlying principle is the same as WHtR: assessing central adiposity as a driver of metabolic syndrome. Researchers in Japan have also published extensively on WHtR, and the metric is increasingly used in Japanese clinical research settings alongside the national waist circumference standards.

Australia and Canada have seen growing interest in WHtR within their research and public health communities, though neither country has yet incorporated it into formal national clinical guidelines to the same degree as the UK. Australian researchers have contributed significantly to the WHtR evidence base, and some Australian clinical practices use WHtR informally. In Canada, the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care acknowledges waist circumference as an important measure but has not specifically mandated WHtR in screening protocols.

In the United States, clinical practice remains heavily centered on BMI. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and major medical associations such as the American Heart Association still primarily recommend BMI for obesity screening, with waist circumference as a supplementary measure. WHtR is rarely mentioned in U.S. clinical guidelines, despite the substantial body of evidence supporting it. This gap between research evidence and clinical adoption means that many American patients who would benefit from WHtR screening are assessed by BMI alone, potentially missing cases of metabolically unhealthy central obesity. Consult our BMI vs WHR comparison for more on this limitation.

The gap between evidence and practice in the United States is notable. Ashwell's meta-analysis and numerous subsequent studies have demonstrated WHtR's superiority over BMI for predicting cardiometabolic risk, yet BMI remains the default screening metric in most U.S. healthcare settings. Advocacy from researchers and professional organizations is gradually raising awareness, and some forward-thinking practices have begun incorporating WHtR into patient assessments.

The stacked bar chart above illustrates why WHtR deserves broader clinical adoption. With 78% sensitivity for predicting cardiovascular events, it outperforms waist to hip ratio (74%), absolute waist circumference alone (70%), and BMI (65%). These figures, drawn from aggregated research data, underscore that the simplest height-adjusted waist measurement provides the best single screening result. For a complete understanding of how body shape relates to health, see our body shape calculator guide.

Looking ahead, the trend is toward wider adoption. As healthcare systems worldwide grapple with rising obesity rates and limited screening resources, the appeal of a universal, simple, equipment-minimal metric like WHtR will only grow. The tool requires no scale, no electronic device, and no lookup table -- just a tape measure and the knowledge that your waist should be less than half your height. For patients, providers, and public health programs alike, that simplicity is a powerful asset. Explore all our health guides or return to the homepage calculator to check your ratio now.

Sources & References

1. Ashwell M, Gunn P, Gibson S. Waist-to-height ratio is a better screening tool than waist circumference and BMI for adult cardiometabolic risk factors: systematic review and meta-analysis. Obes Rev. 2012;13(3):275-286. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22106927
2. Browning LM, Hsieh SD, Ashwell M. A systematic review of waist-to-height ratio as a screening tool for the prediction of cardiovascular disease and diabetes: 0.5 could be a suitable global boundary value. Nutr Res Rev. 2010;23(2):247-269. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20819243
3. World Health Organization. Obesity and overweight fact sheet. who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/obesity-and-overweight
4. Harvard Health Publishing. Abdominal obesity and your health. health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/abdominal-obesity-and-your-health
5. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Calculate Your BMI. nhlbi.nih.gov/calculate-your-bmi
6. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About BMI. cdc.gov/bmi/about/index.html
7. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Obesity: identification, assessment and management. Clinical guideline CG189. nice.org.uk/guidance/cg189
8. McCarthy HD, Ashwell M. A study of central fatness using waist-to-height ratios in UK children and adolescents over two decades supports the simple message -- 'keep your waist circumference to less than half your height.' Int J Obes. 2006;30(6):988-992. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16717178
9. Ashwell M, Hsieh SD. Six reasons why the waist-to-height ratio is a rapid and effective global indicator for health risks of obesity and how its use could simplify the international public health message on obesity. Int J Food Sci Nutr. 2005;56(5):303-307. bmj.com/content/345/bmj.e7677