Waist Circumference Risk Calculator
Classify your health risk band from waist circumference using standard thresholds by sex. Educational only.
Measure at the top of your hip bone, snug but not squeezing, after breathing out. These are the widely used WHO/NIH thresholds for people of European descent; cutoffs are lower for South Asian, Chinese, and some other populations, so a "low" reading here isn't automatically low for everyone.
This is an educational estimate, not medical advice. Numbers here can't diagnose or rule out any condition. Talk to a qualified clinician about your own health.
How it works
Where you carry weight matters as much as how much you carry. Fat around the middle — around the organs — tends to track with a higher risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease than fat elsewhere. Waist circumference is a simple, cheap way to get a read on that abdominal fat.
This tool uses the widely cited WHO and NIH thresholds. For men, 94 cm (37 in) marks increased risk and 102 cm (40 in) marks high risk. For women, the cutoffs are 80 cm (31.5 in) and 88 cm (34.5 in). Enter your measurement in centimeters or inches and pick your sex to see which band you fall into.
To measure well, wrap the tape at the top of your hip bone, keep it level and snug without digging in, and read it after breathing out normally. Do it on bare skin, not over bulky clothes, and you'll get a number that's consistent enough to track over time.
Frequently asked questions
What waist size counts as high risk?
Using the standard thresholds, high risk starts at about 102 cm (40 in) for men and 88 cm (34.5 in) for women. An increased-risk band sits just below: 94 cm (37 in) for men and 80 cm (31.5 in) for women. These are screening cues, not diagnoses.
Do these thresholds apply to everyone?
No. They're based on populations of European descent. People of South Asian, Chinese, and some other backgrounds tend to carry health risk at lower waist sizes, so lower cutoffs are recommended. A reading labeled low here may not be low for every group.
How is this different from BMI?
BMI uses your overall weight and height and can't tell where fat sits. Waist circumference targets abdominal fat specifically, which is more strongly tied to metabolic risk. Many clinicians look at both together rather than relying on either one alone.