To determine if you have a healthy waist to hip ratio, measure the circumference of your hips at the widest part of your buttocks. Now divide your waist measurement by your hip measurement. For men, a ratio of .90 or less is considered healthy. For women, a ratio of .80 or less is considered healthy. For both genders, a ratio of 1.0 or higher puts you at increased risk for heart disease and other health conditions associated with being overweight.
Still, no matter what your BMI or waist-to-hip ratio, don’t lose hope! You can start to make positive changes in the way you eat and exercise today that will let you lose extra weight and lower the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and certain types of cancer.
To determine your waist circumference, locate the upper hip bone and place a measuring tape around the abdomen (ensuring that the tape is horizontal). The tape should be snug but should not compress the skin. If your waist circumference is (for a man) greater than 40 inches or (for a woman) greater than 35 inches, there is no need to do any further calculation, as this measurement alone has been shown to be a major risk factor for both CVD and type 2 diabetes. If your waist circumference is less than these values, you need to determine your waist-to-hip ratio. To do this, measure the circumference of your waist as before and the circumference of your hips at the greatest protrusion of the buttocks. Divide the waist circumference by the hip circumference. A waist-to-hip ratio above 1.0 for men and above 0.8 for women increases the risk of developing CVD, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and gout.
Measure the circumference of your waist: _____ Measure the circumference of your hips: ____Divide the waist measurement by the hip measurement: waist/hip = _____ (this is your waist-to-hip ratio)

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Important: This content reflects information from various individuals and organizations and may offer alternative or opposing points of view. It should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. As always, you should consult with your healthcare provider about your specific health needs.