Why waist, not weight
Fat stored around the abdomen and inside the organs behaves very differently from fat under the skin of the hips and thighs. It is the visceral kind that tracks with liver fat and insulin resistance — which is why someone with a “normal” BMI and a large waist can still have a fatty liver.
Waist-to-height ratio captures that in one number and needs nothing but a tape measure. The widely used rule of thumb is to keep your waist to less than half your height, which is a ratio below 0.5. UK national guidance on obesity assessment recommends it alongside BMI for exactly this reason.
| Ratio | Commonly described as |
|---|---|
| Below 0.5 | Healthy central fat distribution |
| 0.5 – 0.59 | Increased central adiposity |
| 0.6 and above | High central adiposity |
The 0.5 boundary is not intended for children under about five, for pregnancy, or for people who are very muscular.
Before you act on this
FattyFix publishes general health information. It is not medical advice, it is not a diagnosis, and it is not a substitute for talking to a doctor, pharmacist or dietitian who knows your history. Never delay or stop treatment because of something you read here.
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