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In the fight against obesity, which is a huge health problem of our time, a number of indicators have been developed that allow for a reliable assessment of the degree of obesity and for monitoring the progress in losing kilograms. The most popular of them is BMI, but it has its limitations. Therefore, the WHR – waist-hip ratio is used interchangeably, i.e. the ratio of the waist circumference to the circumference of the hips.
What is WHR and how is it different from BMI?
BMI stands for body mass index, i.e. body mass index. It is a simple factor that is calculated by dividing your body weight in kilograms by your height in meters when you increase to a power. We then achieve a numerical value that is easy to compare and refer to the standards set by specialists. Unfortunately, despite its popularity, BMI cannot provide complete information about the patient’s condition. First of all, only when comparing body weight with height, we do not take into account at all to what extent body mass is created by muscle tissue and to what extent by adipose tissue. This means that, according to the BMI, an avid bodybuilder with a large body mass built by muscles may be obese! Another equally important parameter, not expressed by BMI, is the distribution of fat mass in the body. It depends on what the causes of overweight or obesity are and what are the options for combating it.
To describe these parameters, the WHR index, i.e. the ratio of the waist circumference to the hip circumference, was created. To calculate the WHR, simply divide your waist circumference by your hip circumference. The resulting proportion gives information about how fat is broken down in our body.
How to correctly calculate the WHR?
In order for the WHR indicator to be reliable, it must be ensured that the measurements used in the calculations have been made correctly. We calculate the waist circumference by dragging a centimeter exactly halfway between the lower edge of the costal arch and the upper crest of the iliac bone. There should be an indentation at the waist. If the person does not have a waistline, choose the widest part of the abdomen or measure the circumference three centimeters below the belly button.
The hip circumference, in turn, is measured by measuring a centimeter at the height of the front upper iliac spines or the widest point of the buttocks.
What information does the WHR provide?
The table for WHR is very simple and can be summarized in one sentence: A WHR of 1,0 or more in men and 0,8 or more in women indicates abdominal obesity, also called android obesity. In this type of obesity, fatty tissue accumulates around the abdomen. It is most common in men and is usually caused by a lack of physical activity, a poor diet, and sometimes genetic factors. It can be a harbinger of dangerous diseases such as coronary artery disease, atherosclerosis, heart attack or hypertension, because abdominal obesity leads to fatty degeneration of internal organs. Therefore, a too high WHR is a signal that an urgent consultation with a dietitian and a lifestyle change are needed.
On the Internet, you can find information that WHR helps determine the presence of another type of obesity, called gynoid obesity, the so-called a pear, where the fatty tissue collects around the thighs and buttocks. It is to be indicated by a WHR index below 1,0 in men and below 0,8 in women. However, this is a somewhat far-fetched statement. The WHR standards defined in this way do not make it possible to state what the correct value is. Moreover, although a large difference in waist and hip circumference actually accompanies gynoid obesity, the mere fact of finding such a proportion does not indicate its occurrence. It is easy to calculate that the dimensions so praised in the culture: 60 cm in the waist and 90 cm in the hips give a WHR of 0,66, which would indicate gynoid obesity.
Interestingly, there are scientific studies that heterosexual men are most aroused to see women with a WHR of 0,7. It is speculated that this is due to the fact that wide hips are a sign of childbearing capacity, and thus men subconsciously choose the best reproductive partners.