Waist Circumference Risk Calculator
Compare your waist measurement to the NIH/WHO sex-specific thresholds and see the cardiometabolic risk category — in both centimetres and inches.
How it works
High-risk waist: ≥102 cm (40 in) for men, ≥88 cm (35 in) for women (NIH/WHO)
Waist circumference is a direct measure of abdominal (visceral) fat, which is more strongly tied to heart disease and type-2 diabetes than overall weight. Unlike BMI, it does not depend on height and is not thrown off by muscle mass. The NIH sets a single high-risk line — 102 cm for men and 88 cm for women — above which cardiometabolic risk rises substantially.
Worked example
A man with a 95 cm waist is 3.5 inches (about 7 cm) below the 102 cm high-risk threshold, so he sits in the lower-risk band. A 105 cm waist, by contrast, would cross the line into the high-risk category.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I measure my waist?
Place the tape horizontally at the top of the hip bones (roughly at the navel), snug against the skin without compressing it, and read the value after gently breathing out.
Is waist better than BMI?
They measure different things. BMI reflects total weight for height; waist reflects abdominal fat specifically. Someone can have a normal BMI but a high-risk waist, so many guidelines recommend checking both.
Do the thresholds differ by ethnicity?
Yes. Some organisations use lower cut-offs (for example 90 cm for men and 80 cm for women) for South Asian, Chinese and Japanese populations, who develop metabolic risk at smaller waist sizes.
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Educational estimate only — not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Consult a qualified clinician for health decisions.