Fitness Testing
Fitness Testing > Tests > Anthropometry > Body Composition > Waist to Hip Ratio
Waist to Hip Ratio
aim: the purpose of this test to determine the ratio of waist circumference to the hip circumference, as this has been shown to be related to the risk of coronary heart disease.
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equipment required: tape measure
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description / procedure: A simple calculation of the measurements of the waist girth divided by the hip girth. Waist to Hip Ratio (WHR) = Gw / Gh, where Gw = waist girth, Gh = hip girth
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scoring: The table below gives general guidelines for acceptable levels for hip to waist ratio. You can use any units for the measurements (e.g. cm or inches), as it is only the ratio that is important.
acceptable |
unacceptable |
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excellent |
good |
average |
high |
extreme |
|
male |
< 0.85 |
0.85 - 0.90 |
0.90 - 0.95 |
0.95 - 1.00 |
> 1.00 |
female |
< 0.75 |
0.75 - 0.80 |
0.80 - 0.85 |
0.85 - 0.90 |
> 0.90 |
- target population: This measure is often used to determine the coronary artery disease risk factor associated with obesity.
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advantages: the WHR is a simple measure that can be taken at home by anyone to monitor their own body composition levels.
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other comments: The basis of this measure as a coronary disease risk factor is the assumption is that fat stored around the waist poses a greater risk to health than fat stored elsewhere in the body.
Related Pages
- general procedures for girth measurements, plus waist girth and hip girth procedure
- other body composition tests and anthropometrical tests
- about measuring body composition
