Health / Measurements
Waist-to-Height Ratio Calculator
Calculate waist divided by height, the NICE category and the waist measurement at a ratio of 0.5.
Waist-to-Height Ratio Calculator: Divides waist by height in the same units. Applies the NICE NG246 bands to the unrounded ratio for adults with BMI below 35 and children aged 5 or over. Values below 0.4 are outside the listed bands. Runs 100% locally in your browser with zero server file uploads.
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Healthy central adiposity: no increased health risk indicated by this measure.
NICE NG246, updated 8 January 2026, recommends using waist-to-height ratio alongside BMI in adults with BMI below 35. The same bands apply to children and young people aged 5 years and over, for both sexes and all ethnicities.
Find the bottom of the ribs and the top of the hip bones. Place the tape halfway between them and breathe out naturally before measuring. Use the same units for waist and height.
| Ratio | Category |
|---|---|
| 0.4 to below 0.5 | Healthy central adiposity |
| 0.5 to below 0.6 | Increased central adiposity |
| 0.6 or more | High central adiposity |
Categories use the unrounded ratio. NICE advises keeping waist below half of height; the displayed 0.5 waist is a boundary, not a diagnosis or a personal treatment target. Discuss concerns with a clinician.
NICE NG246 categories
NG246, published 14 January 2025, updated 8 January 2026. Recommendations 1.9.8 and 1.9.14–15 cover adults with BMI below 35; 1.10.5 and 1.10.10–11 cover children aged 5 and over. Bands: 0.4 to below 0.5, 0.5 to below 0.6, and 0.6 or more. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng246/chapter/Identifying-and-assessing-overweight-obesity-and-central-adiposity . Accessed / DATA_CHECKED: 2026-10-04.
NICE NG246 measurement and replacement
Box 1: measure midway between the bottom of the ribs and top of the hips after breathing out naturally; divide by height in the same units. NG246 replaces CG189: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng246/resources/update-information-summary-of-deleted-and-amended-recommendations-13620248461/chapter/Using-this-information . Accessed / DATA_CHECKED: 2026-10-04.
How to use it
- Choose units and the applicable age/BMI group.
- Measure waist halfway between the lower ribs and the top of the hips.
- Read the ratio and the half-height waist boundary.
Privacy & limitations
Measurements stay in your browser. Nothing is uploaded.
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Frequently asked questions
Is this a diagnosis?
No. It is health information to discuss with a clinician, alongside BMI and other assessments.
Does NICE cover children?
Yes. NG246 recommendations 1.10.5 and 1.10.10–11 cover children and young people aged 5 years and over.
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