| WtHR | Considerations |
|---|---|
| Less than 0.4 | Take Care (possibly underweight) |
| 0.4 - 0.49 | Healthy, No Action Needed |
| 0.5 - 0.59 | Consider Action |
| ≥ 0.6 | Take Action |
What does this mean for you?
Take action:
A Waist to Height ratio (WtHR) of 0.6 or above places you at high risk of obesity-related health conditions and could highly impact your heart health. It's suggested that you take action by talking to your doctor for a full assessment to help you start your weight management journey. Based on your diagnostic test results and your needs, your healthcare provider can recommend a weight reduction plan or discuss other obesity care options for long-term weight management.
| Category | Children | Adults |
|---|---|---|
| Underweight | BMI <5th percentile of age | <18.5 kg/m2 |
| Normal weight | BMI ≥5th to 85th percentile of age | 18.5-22.9 kg/m2 |
| Overweight | BMI ≥85th to 95th percentile of age | 23-24.9 kg/m2 |
| Obesity | BMI ≥95th percentile of age | |
| Obesity grade 1 | 25-29.9 kg/m2 | |
| Obesity grade 2 | 30-34.9 kg/m2 | |
| Obesity grade 3 | >35 kg/m2 |
References
- Ruiz-García A, Serrano-Cumplido A, Escobar-Cervantes C, et al. Prevalence Rates of Abdominal Obesity, High Waist-to-Height Ratio and Excess Adiposity, and Their Associated Cardio-Kidney-Metabolic Factors: SIMETAP-AO Study. Nutrients. 2024;16(22):3948. doi: 10.3390/nu16223948
- Madhu SV, Nitin K, Sambit D, et al. ESI clinical practice guidelines for the evaluation and management of obesity in India. Indian J Endocrinol Metab. 2022;26(4):295-318. doi: 10.4103/2230-8210.356236. PMID: 36185955
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Available at: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg189/resources/obesity-identification-assessment-and-management-pdf-35109821097925
- 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):247-69. doi: 10.1017/S0954422410000144. PMID: 20819243
- Ashwell M, Browning LM. The increasing importance of waist-to-height ratio to assess cardiometabolic risk: a plea for consistent terminology. The Open Obesity Journal. 2011 May 23;3(1).
IN24OB00093, December 2024