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The waist hip ratio (WHR) is one of the key indicators used to assess health and attractiveness in both men and women. WHR has been studied since 1868, when Italian anatomist Angelo Mosso theorized that body shape was related to fertility; other scientists put this theory into practice over the following decades.
In 1980, American evolutionary biologist Devendra Singh developed an equation using WHR as a metric for physical attractiveness based on his research of various populations around the world. His findings suggested that there are certain ideal ratios which varied slightly by ethnicity but served as a general rule across all cultures: hourglass figures were rated highest among heterosexual women while “V shapes” with broad shoulders relative to their waists were most attractive among heterosexual men.
Singh’s initial work sparked numerous further investigations into how humans assign beauty preferences according to anthropometric features including height or strength from facial symmetry, proving our brains prefer neatly packaged proportions no matter where they appear. Various studies have found links between issues such as heart disease risk factors like obesity and individuals’ preference for these ‘ideal’ shaped bodies too,making assessment techniques even more effective than previously thought possible.
The waist hip ratio is the dimensionless measure of an individual’s body shape. It characterizes fat and muscle distribution in human populations. It has been suggested that a higher WHR indicates increased health risks among females and males alike such as heart disease, diabetes mellitus type 2, gallbladder diseases, and storoke, while lower ratios have consistently correlated with better overall physical performance and longevity.
The formula for calculating your own waist hip ratio can be derived from two simple measurements; determining your waist circumference taken at its narrowest point on top of hipbones just after exhaling fully and measuring the circumference around hips area usually taken at the fullest part below belly button:
Ratio = waist over hips
What is an ideal waist hip ratio?
Men .99 or lower
Women .90 or lower
In this example, Fred has a 38 hip and 34 waist. The formula would be 34/38 which equals .89