Why is waist-hip ratio important?

Your WHR is important because research suggests that if you are carrying excess fat around the waist, this abdominal -- or visceral -- fat makes you more likely to develop health problems, compared to people who carry fat mainly in their hips and thighs.

Excess visceral fat is linked to abnormalities, such as insulin resistance and an increase in LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels, both of which are risk factors for heart disease. Visceral fat also can be a factor in the development of metabolic syndrome, another condition that is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

Therefore, avoiding an expanding waistline is one way to reduce the risk of heart disease and metabolic syndrome. Any decrease in waist circumference is a positive step toward healthier body fat distribution, regardless of your weight loss.

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Waist to hip ration is simply a measurement of waist size compared to hip size. This is an important measurement because it is a good indicator of visceral fat. Fat which resides in the abdominal area is more closely linked to chronic diseases such as coronary heart disease, hypertension and diabetes. When you track waist to hip ration you can track effectiveness of exercise when you notice a decrease in waist size.

The waist-to-hip ratio is a quick, easy method to estimate body composition and describe body proportions. It is a common measure that shows the degree of a person’s abdominal fat. Storing excessive fat in the abdominal region (known as the "apple" shape) is correlated with an increased disease risk; this test is one way to measure your risk for lifestyle and weight-related diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease and more. Storing fat in your lower half, known as a "Pear" shape, is actually a healthier site for fat accumulation. The less common "avocado" shape is somewhere between an apple and a pear, with health risks higher than a pear-shaped person, but somewhat lower than a true apple-shaped person.