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Check your Waist-to-Height Ratio

Metric Imperial
Metric / Imperial
Why do I need to calculate this?

BMI can only screen for obesity, it can’t measure body fat distribution which may indicate one's risk of heart related conditions. For that you need to calculate your Waist-to-Height Ratio

Your waistline tells a story about your health

Fat around the waist—visceral fat—can increase your risk of cardiovascular disease, even with a healthy BMI. Measuring your waistline gives you key insights to take control of your health.

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Test your knowledge

Are you curious to understand the link between obesity and heart health? Take this quick quiz to find out their connection and prevalence around the world. Discover facts about these diseases and test your knowledge.

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Speak your heart out

We understand that discussing obesity and weight is not easy. That’s why we have created a guide to help you have an open and meaningful conversation with your health care provider.

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You’re not lazy, obesity is a complex disease

Managing weight isn’t as simple as eating less and moving more. Genetics, environment, and other factors all play a role in your weight and the development of obesity. You’re not alone in this. See how others are taking charge of their health.

Watch more stories about obesity
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+1 Billion

People are living with obesity worldwide, highlighting the complexity of the disease and the urgent need for comprehensive obesity care.

40-70%

Of the risk of developing obesity can be attributed to genetics, highlighting that it's not just about willpower but also biological factors. 

 

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+200

Obesity is associated with more than 200 health complications.




 

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<0.5 ratio

For a healthier heart, your waist should be less than half your height.


 

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5%

Reduction in excess weight can improve heart health and quality of life.


 

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2.9 x

People living with obesity are 2.9 times more likely to achieve their weight management 
goal when working with an obesity expert.

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Join the Community

Discover a reliable source for all things obesity and connect with like-minded people on your weight management journey through our newsletter.
 

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Talk to your weight management provider about treatment options that could prevent the weight you lose from coming back.

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References:
  1. T-P-3166: A systematic review and evaluation of current evidence reveals 236 obesity-associated disorders 
  2. Lopez-Jimenez, F. et al. (2022) ‘Obesity and cardiovascular disease: Mechanistic insights and management strategies. A joint position paper by the World Heart Federation and World Obesity Federation’, European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, 29(17), pp. 2218–2237. doi:10.1093/eurjpc/zwac187.  
  3. Ashwell, M. (2011) ‘Charts based on body mass index and waist-to-height ratio to assess the health risks of Obesity: A Review’, The Open Obesity Journal, 3(1), pp. 78–84. doi:10.2174/1876823701103010078.  
  4. Powell-Wiley, T.M. et al. (2021) ‘Obesity and cardiovascular disease: A scientific statement from the American Heart Association’, Circulation, 143(21). doi:10.1161/cir.0000000000000973.  
  5. Lau DCW, Wharton S. Canadian Adult Obesity Clinical Practice Guidelines: The Science of Obesity. Available from: https://obesitycanada.ca/guidelines/science. 
  6. NCD Risk Factor Collaboration (NCD-RisC). Worldwide trends in underweight and obesity from 1990 to 2022: a pooled analysis of 3663 population-representative studies with 222 million children, adolescents, and adults. Lancet. 2024 Mar 16;403(10431):1027-1050. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(23)02750-2. 
  7.  Jackson Leach R, Powis J, Baur LA, Caterson ID, Dietz W, Logue J, Lobstein T. Clinical care for obesity: A preliminary survey of sixty-eight countries. Clin Obes. 2020 Apr;10(2):e12357. doi: 10.1111/cob.12357. Epub 2020 Mar 3. PMID: 32128994. 
  8. Waalen J. The genetics of human obesity. Transl Res. 2014 Oct;164(4):293-301. doi: 10.1016/j.trsl.2014.05.010.  
  9. Garvey WT, Mechanick JI, Brett EM, Garber AJ, Hurley DL, Jastreboff AM, Nadolsky K, Pessah-Pollack R, Plodkowski R; Reviewers of the AACE/ACE Obesity Clinical Practice Guidelines. AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF CLINICAL ENDOCRINOLOGISTS AND AMERICAN COLLEGE OF ENDOCRINOLOGY COMPREHENSIVE CLINICAL PRACTICE GUIDELINES FOR MEDICAL CARE OF PATIENTS WITH OBESITY. Endocr Pract. 2016 Jul;22 Suppl 3:1-203. doi: 10.4158/EP161365 
  10. Griauzde DH, Turner CD, Othman A, Oshman L, Gabison J, Arizaca-Dileo PK, Walford E, Henderson J, Beckius D, Lee JM, Carter EW, Dallas C, Herrera-Theut K, Richardson CR, Kullgren JT, Piatt G, Heisler M, Kraftson A. A Primary Care-Based Weight Navigation Program. JAMA Netw Open. 2024 May 1;7(5):e2412192. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.12192 

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