My Waist-Hip Ratio.

I recently wanted to figure out my waist-hip ratio, because supposedly you can figure out if you have increased risk for health problems.

It ended up being .84, which is a moderate to high risk!

Waist: 26

Hips: 31

My BMI is 19.3, I weigh 123 pounds and my height is 5'7...I'm thin!

How can this be right?

People who tend to accumulate fat around their midsection are more likely to develop conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure or diabetes than those who gain weight around their hips and thighs. For women to be considered "healthy" in this regard only, the medical establishment says that overweight women should have a waist-to-hip ratio of less than 0.8.

As for you, all this says is that you have an apple shape. It suggests that were you to gain weight—and thus fat around your midsection—you might be at risk for certain diseases.

At your weight/height I think you can safely ignore what it says! You may have some extra bodyfat stored around your mid-section (as in, you're not wasp-waisted) but you're lightyears away from needing to be concerned.

But I don't carry fat on my midsection. That's where my confusion is.

Original Post by runner02:

But I don't carry fat on my midsection. That's where my confusion is.

All the ratio says is that you have an apple shape. It suggests that were you to gain weight—and thus fat around your midsection, if you are predisposed to such given your measurements—you might be at risk for certain diseases.

I think the "apple" designation really starts at 0.85 or so.

Okay, thanks for the clarification.

Are you sure you're measuring your hips right?  You should be measuring around the widest part of your butt.  I'm just asking because I'm 5'7 120 and my hips are around 36.

I thought for the hip measurement you were supposed to measure around the fullest part of your hips, not your butt.

True. I never really looked at the measurements. My hips are 32, but my waist is 23. There seems too little difference between 31 and 26. But, then, I don't have the apple shape; others do.

take into account bone-structure as well. I have a very broad rib cage and it makes my waist a little bigger even though I have very little fat in that area...I'd hate to know what my ratio is, no hips and broad rib cage make for a straight line... :(

Okay. The butt thing makes much more sense! I remeasured and calculated a new ratio of .74...reduced risk!

It's true that people who carry extra weight in their midsection (like me) have increased risk for a bunch of things, although I've read that this is only an increased risk if your waist measurement is greater than 32. 

The reason the hip to waist ratio matters is because it is indicative of people who tend to have more fat around their organs.  Some is good because it helps cushion them from impact, the ratio is supposed to indicate if you are prone to carrying too much.  At your weight, you probably aren't "fat" in the way we think about fat (by the way, I'm not saying you're fat at all!!!)  However, the study that created waves with this ratio considered people who both were and weren't a "normal weight" so people with your ratio still need to be conscious of the increased health risks throughout your life.