A tool designed to determine the distribution of fat on an individual’s body, particularly the proportion of fat stored around the waist compared to the hips, facilitates an assessment of potential health risks. The result is a numerical value derived from dividing the waist circumference by the hip circumference, providing an indication of abdominal obesity. For instance, if a person has a waist measurement of 30 inches and hip measurement of 40 inches, the resulting value is 0.75.
Calculating and interpreting the value obtained offers insights into cardiovascular health and potential risks associated with metabolic disorders. The measurement and subsequent calculation have been used for decades as a simple, cost-effective screening tool, preceding more complex diagnostic procedures. It provides clinicians with a preliminary understanding of a patient’s overall health risk profile related to weight distribution.
