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Waist-to-Hip Ratio
The waist-to-hip ratio is a number derived from dividing the circumference of the waist by that of the hips. You measure the smallest part of the waist (above the hip bone) and divide it by the measurement of the widest part of the hip (the widest part of the buttocks). You can calculate your WHR here.
The "ideal" waist-to-hip ratio for women is thought to be about
.7 (the waist is 70% of the hips), and for men, about .9. People with
these ratios tend to be very fertile and in good health.
These values also tend to be viewed as more attractive. Women with a WHR of .7 are rated as more attractive by men from Western cultures. In China, .6 is seen as the ideal, and in parts of Africa, .8 or .9 is the preference. This may be because hormones that make women physically stronger and better at handling stress also increase their WHR.
Both men and women with a WHR of above 1.0 are at higher risk for problems relating to being overweight.
WHR is good at predicting susceptibility to disease, much more so than BMI scores are. This may be because fat located on your hips is not as bad for your health as fat located on the stomach (indeed, women with wide hips tend to be smarter and have more intelligent children). You can be thin and still have fat in "bad areas", and be heavier but have a good fat distribution.
Curvy
Women Smarter
Waist-To-Hip Ratio and Hormones
Calculate your Waist-To-Hip Ratio
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