Waist-to-Height Ratio
A better predictor of health risks than BMI. Keep your waist circumference less than half your height.
Measurements
Measure at the narrowest point, or just above the belly button.
Your waist should be less than half your height for optimal health.
Improves TDEE accuracy if known
Scientific Basis
Research by Ashwell et al. (2012) shows WHtR is a better predictor of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and mortality risk than BMI. It accounts for body shape and fat distribution.
Keeping your waist circumference less than half your height (WHtR < 0.5) is associated with significantly lower health risks. This simple rule works across all ethnicities and is more accurate than BMI for predicting health outcomes.
BMI doesn't distinguish between muscle and fat, or where fat is stored. WHtR focuses on abdominal fat (visceral fat), which is more strongly linked to health risks. A muscular person might have a high BMI but a healthy WHtR.