Waist-to-Height Ratio Found More Reliable Than BMI Predicting Heart Disease Risk, Study Reveals

New Delhi: A new study has found that the ratio of a person’s waist measurement to their height is a more reliable indicator of heart disease risk than the widely used Body Mass Index (BMI).

While obesity has long been recognized as a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, this research suggests that waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) may offer a more accurate and practical way to assess a person’s health.

The study, published in The Lancet Regional Health – Americas, indicates that WHtR could change how doctors and individuals evaluate the risk of developing heart-related conditions, especially in people who may appear to have a “normal” weight based on BMI.

Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh in the US analysed data from 2,721 adults who initially had no signs of cardiovascular disease and were monitored for over five years.

According to lead researcher Thiago Bosco Mendes, higher BMI, waist circumference, and waist-to-height ratio were all initially linked to a greater chance of developing heart problems.

However, after taking into account other common risk factors — such as age, gender, smoking habits, physical activity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and cholesterol levels — only the waist-to-height ratio remained a consistent predictor.

The findings highlight that many people with a BMI under 30 (the typical threshold for obesity) may still face significant heart disease risks without realising it.

BMI alone cannot distinguish between types of fat — it overlooks where fat is stored in the body and doesn’t differentiate between harmful visceral fat around internal organs and the less dangerous subcutaneous fat beneath the skin.

In contrast, the waist-to-height ratio directly measures central obesity, which is more closely tied to heart disease. A WHtR value above 0.5 suggests that a person’s waist is more than half of their height — a signal of increased cardiovascular risk, even if other health indicators like weight, cholesterol, or blood pressure appear normal.

Senior researcher Marcio Bittencourt explained that using WHtR as a screening tool could help doctors identify high-risk patients earlier, allowing timely lifestyle changes or medical interventions. “It’s a simple and effective way to detect heart disease risk early, even among people who might otherwise seem healthy,” he said.

The study reinforces the importance of focusing on fat distribution rather than just overall body weight, offering a simpler and more inclusive approach to heart health assessment.