The UK's most complete GLP-1 guide
Every Question Answered. Every Side Effect Explained.
- How GLP-1 medications work
- Mounjaro vs Wegovy compared
- Injection instructions
- Side effects & solutions
- What to eat on treatment
- FAQs answered
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Waist Hip Ratio Calculator — What You Need to Know
Your waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) is a simple but powerful measure of body fat distribution that can indicate your risk of cardiovascular disease and other health conditions. Unlike BMI, which doesn't distinguish between muscle and fat, WHR focuses on where your body stores fat — and this matters significantly for your health. A healthy waist-to-hip ratio is below 0.5 for all UK adults, regardless of overall weight. This guide explains how to calculate your ratio, what it means, and why it's an important complement to other health measurements like BMI and waist circumference alone.
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Calculate Your BMI Instantly
Enter your height and weight below. Supports both imperial (stone & lbs) and metric (kg). Results include NHS category, healthy weight range, and ethnicity adjustments.
What Is BMI and Why Does It Matter?
Body Mass Index (BMI) is the most widely used screening tool for assessing whether your weight falls within a healthy range. Used by the NHS, GPs, and weight management services across the UK, BMI provides a quick snapshot of your weight relative to your height. The formula is simple: your weight in kilograms divided by your height in metres squared (kg/m²).
While BMI isn't a perfect measure — it doesn't account for muscle mass, bone density, or fat distribution — it remains the standard first step in identifying potential weight-related health risks including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, and certain cancers.
The NHS also recommends adjusted thresholds for people of South Asian, Chinese, or Black African heritage — a BMI of 23 or above is classified as overweight, and 27.5 as obese. Our calculator includes this adjustment as a one-click toggle.
How to Calculate Your Waist-to-Hip Ratio
Calculating your waist-to-hip ratio is straightforward and requires just two measurements: waist circumference at the narrowest point (usually just above your belly button) and hip circumference at the widest point (around your buttocks). Use a soft measuring tape and measure in the same units throughout — either centimetres or inches. The formula is simple: divide your waist measurement by your hip measurement. For example, if your waist is 80cm and your hips are 100cm, your WHR is 0.80. A healthy ratio is below 0.5 — anything above 0.5 indicates increasing health risk, particularly for cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic complications. NHS guidance recognises WHR as a valuable screening tool alongside BMI because it captures information about fat distribution that weight alone cannot reveal.
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How It Works
Three simple steps to understand your weight and take action.
Enter your height and weight in our free calculator. Get your BMI, NHS category, healthy weight range, and ethnicity-adjusted thresholds instantly.
If your BMI suggests you're overweight or obese, explore our GLP-1 calculators to project potential weight loss on Mounjaro or Wegovy.
Use our progress tracker to log your weight weekly, visualise your journey with charts, and stay motivated — all stored privately in your browser.
Free Weight Loss Tools & Guides
Everything you need to understand your weight, explore medication options, and track your progress — completely free.
Understanding Your Waist-to-Hip Ratio Results
Below 0.5: Healthy distribution of body fat. This is the target range for all adults.
0.5 to 0.59: Acceptable but approaching higher-risk territory. Consider reviewing diet and activity levels.
0.6 and above: Higher risk for cardiovascular disease and metabolic conditions. Your GP may recommend lifestyle interventions, and health checks become increasingly important. Combined with your BMI and waist circumference, this helps your healthcare team assess your overall health risk. Use our free BMI calculator alongside this measurement to get a complete picture of your health status, and consider tracking changes over time with our weight converter and progress tracker.
- Dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist
- Up to 22.5% body weight loss (SURMOUNT-1)
- Weekly injection, dose escalation over 20+ weeks
- Available via private prescription in the UK
- Doses: 2.5mg → 5mg → 7.5mg → 10mg → 12.5mg → 15mg
- GLP-1 receptor agonist
- Up to 15–17% body weight loss (STEP trials)
- Weekly injection, 5-step dose escalation
- NHS & private prescription available
- Doses: 0.25mg → 0.5mg → 1mg → 1.7mg → 2.4mg
Mounjaro vs Wegovy: Head-to-Head
A side-by-side comparison of the two most popular GLP-1 weight loss medications available in the UK.
| Feature | Mounjaro | Wegovy |
|---|---|---|
| Drug class | Dual GIP/GLP-1 agonist | GLP-1 agonist |
| Active ingredient | Tirzepatide | Semaglutide |
| Avg. weight loss | 15–22.5% | 12–17% |
| Key trial | SURMOUNT-1 (2022) | STEP 1 (2021) |
| Max dose | 15 mg weekly | 2.4 mg weekly |
| Escalation period | 20–32 weeks | 16–20 weeks |
| Administration | Weekly injection (pen) | Weekly injection (pen) |
| NHS availability | Private prescription only | NHS & private |
| Approx. private cost | £150–£250/month | £150–£300/month |
| Common side effects | Nausea, diarrhoea, constipation | Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea |
Data sourced from SURMOUNT-1 and STEP 1 clinical trials. Costs are approximate and vary by provider. Always consult a prescriber.
Am I Eligible for Weight Loss Medication?
In the UK, eligibility for GLP-1 weight loss medications like Mounjaro and Wegovy is based on your BMI and overall health profile.
- BMI of 30 or above (obese)
- Age 18 or over
- No contraindicated conditions
- Committed to lifestyle changes
- BMI of 27 or above
- Plus type 2 diabetes
- Or high blood pressure
- Or obstructive sleep apnoea
Use our BMI calculator to check whether your BMI falls within the eligible range.
How We Built These Tools
Every calculator and guide on myweightcheck is built with accuracy and transparency in mind. Our BMI calculator uses the standard WHO formula with NHS-aligned category thresholds. Our GLP-1 projections are modelled on published clinical trial data from SURMOUNT and STEP studies.
All data stays on your device. We don't require sign-ups, and we don't store your health information on any server. Your progress tracker saves data locally in your browser using localStorage, so only you can see it.
We're based in the UK and our tools are designed specifically for UK users — supporting stone & lbs by default, referencing NHS guidelines, using NICE-approved medication data, and linking to GPhC-registered pharmacies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about BMI, weight loss medications, and our free UK tools.
Is waist-to-hip ratio more accurate than BMI?
They measure different things. BMI shows overall weight relative to height; WHR shows fat distribution. WHR captures health risk that BMI misses (especially abdominal fat), but both are useful. Athletes with high muscle mass may have high BMI but healthy WHR. Use both tools together for a complete picture.
What's the difference between waist-to-hip ratio and waist circumference?
Waist circumference alone tells you abdominal fat storage. Waist-to-hip ratio relates waist to hip measurement, giving a proportional picture. WHR accounts for your frame size — someone with a naturally larger build may have a higher absolute waist measurement but healthy WHR. NHS recommends checking both.
How often should I measure my waist and hip circumference?
Measure every 4–8 weeks if you're actively managing weight. Take measurements in the morning before eating, using the same tape and technique each time for consistency. Small fluctuations are normal; look for trends over weeks, not day-to-day changes.
Can waist-to-hip ratio predict health risk better than BMI?
Waist-to-hip ratio is a strong predictor of cardiovascular risk and better captures the health impact of where fat is stored. However, NHS guidance recommends using WHR alongside BMI, waist circumference, and other health markers rather than relying on any single measurement.
What if my waist-to-hip ratio is high but my BMI is healthy?
This suggests your weight is concentrated around your abdomen, which increases health risk even at a healthy overall BMI. This pattern is sometimes called "metabolically obese at normal weight." Discuss lifestyle changes and health screening with your GP.
Ready to take control of your weight loss journey?
Start with a free BMI check, explore your GLP-1 options, or begin tracking your progress today. No sign-up. No cost. Just results.