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3.2.3: Part B3- Waist to Hip Ratios (WHR)

  • Page ID
    100865
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    Part B3: Waist to Hip Ratios (WHR)- Like the Waist to Height ratio, the waist to hip ratio is used to estimate body composition and obesity. Unfortunately, individual variability in fat distribution can throw this measure off. If someone has a large waist and a very large hip measurement (large gluteals) then the ratio will be low and indicate low body fat or CVD risk. Likewise, if someone is thin, but has a small hip measurement they will be overestimated in risk factor. In general, the ratings below are applied to the WHR (Bray & Gray, 1988):

    Gender

    Excellent

    Good

    Average

    At Risk

    Male

    <0.85

    .85-.89

    .90-.95

    ≥ 0.95

    Female

    >0.75

    .75-.79

    .80-.85

    ≥ 0.86


    This page titled 3.2.3: Part B3- Waist to Hip Ratios (WHR) is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Mark Kelly.

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