Staying Healthy
Waist-to-hip ratio better than BMI in predicting future health issues
In the journals
- Reviewed by Howard E. LeWine, MD, Chief Medical Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
A person's waist-to-hip ratio may be a better tool than body mass index (BMI) for predicting chronic health problems, according to a study published online Sept. 20, 2023, by JAMA Network Open.
Waist-to-hip ratio is the circumference of your waist divided by the circumference at your hips. For the study, waist circumference was measured at the smallest natural waistline (usually near the belly button) and hip circumference at the widest part of the hips. BMI is calculated by dividing your weight in kilograms by your height in meters squared.
Researchers collected measurements from 387,672 participants (59% men). Everyone's health then was tracked until their death.
Afterward, the researchers identified people who developed weight-related health problems like high blood pressure, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes and then cross-referenced with their measurements. They found that waist-to-hip ratio was a better predictor of a person's future health issues than BMI. The reason, they said, was most likely that waist-to-hip ratio better reflects levels of abdominal fat, including dangerous visceral fat. According to the researchers, a healthy waist-to-hip ratio for most men is below 0.95.
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About the Author
Matthew Solan, Executive Editor, Harvard Men's Health Watch
About the Reviewer
Howard E. LeWine, MD, Chief Medical Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
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