Value comparison
Waist circumference vs. waist-hip ratio vs. waist-height ratio
Short answer
All three indicators describe abdominal fat storage, but they differ in what they compare the waist against: nothing, the hips, or your height.
Side by side
| Aspect | Waist circumference | Waist-hip ratioWHR | Waist-height ratioWHtR |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it compares | Nothing — it is the waist circumference itself. | The waist against the hip circumference. | The waist against body height. |
| How it is produced | Estimated from body composition; with a connected Y-Scope an actually measured value is shown. | Calculated: WHR = waist / hips. The waist is measured horizontally at navel level, the hips at their widest point. | Calculated from waist circumference and height. |
| Unit | cm | dimensionless ratio | dimensionless ratio |
| Manufacturer threshold | The manual gives no reference range. | Abdominal obesity from 0.90 in men and 0.85 in women; the sheet shows ranges around 0.80–0.90 and 0.75–0.85 by sex. | Abdominal obesity above 0.5 in men and above 0.51 in women. |
| Where on the sheet | Additional parameters on the body composition, body water, visceral fat and research sheets. | Additional parameters and the research parameters (item 5). | The research parameters (item 19). |
| When to use it | When you want one plain number you can compare with your own tape measure. | When body shape matters, that is the distribution between waist and hips. | When comparing people of different heights or when you want one simple universal rule. |
| What it cannot tell you | It cannot separate subcutaneous from visceral fat and it ignores height entirely. | It cannot be an absolute measure of leanness — it can read high in slim people with narrow hips. | It ignores body shape and the distribution between waist and hips. |
When the values diverge
- A slim person with narrow hips can show a high waist-hip ratio even though waist circumference and waist-height ratio are both low — a limit the manual points out explicitly.
- Very tall or very short people: the same waist circumference carries a different meaning for each, which is exactly what the waist-height ratio accounts for.
- After losing size around the hips the waist-hip ratio can rise even though the waist has not changed at all.
- Without a connected Y-Scope waist circumference is an estimate from body composition, so small differences between measurements need not match a tape measure.
The most common wrong conclusion
Picking whichever of the three currently looks best and ignoring the rest. Each answers a slightly different question, and they only make sense read together with visceral fat area.
Full explanations of each value
Related articles
An InBody measurement is not a diagnostic tool. Results do not determine health status and do not replace a medical examination.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Which of the three is best?
None of them alone. The waist-height ratio has the simplest rule and works across heights, waist circumference is the most tangible, and the waist-hip ratio carries information about body shape. InBody therefore reports them side by side and adds visceral fat area.
Why does the InBody waist differ from my tape measure?
Because without a connected Y-Scope it is an estimate derived from body composition rather than an actual measurement. For tracking change over time it is better to stay with one method than to alternate between the two.
Can my waist-hip ratio be above the threshold without excess weight?
Yes, and the manual lists this as a known limitation: a high ratio can arise in a slim person with narrow hips. That is exactly why it is read alongside waist circumference and the waist-height ratio.
Explanations make the most sense alongside your own trend.
The public guide is open to everyone. The client portal adds your own value, history and the context of a specific measurement.