Waist-to-height ratio may be better than BMI for predicting health

A study led by researchers at Sheffield and Nottingham, using Health Survey for England data from 2005–2021, reports that waist-to-height ratio can better indicate visceral fat and related health risk than BMI; experts say a waist circumference less than half a person's height is a useful sign, especially in older adults.

New research finds waist-to-height ratio may be a better indicator of health than body mass index (BMI). The study's authors say measuring waist circumference against height can more directly reflect fat stored around vital organs. Experts note that a waist circumference less than half a person's height is a useful sign of healthy weight, particularly for older people. The work was led by teams at the universities of Sheffield and Nottingham and used Health Survey for England data from 2005 to 2021. Key findings: - The study, published in the International Journal of Obesity, analysed Health Survey for England data from 2005–2021. - Researchers and experts report that waist-to-height ratio better captures visceral fat than BMI. - Experts said a waist circumference less than half a person's height is ‘‘a good indicator’’ of healthy weight, especially in older adults. - BMI does not distinguish fat from muscle and can misclassify some groups, such as athletes and older people who lose muscle mass. - In 2023–24, 64.5% of adults in England were estimated to be overweight or obese, with 26.5% classed as living with obesity. - The researchers also reported that the environment has a significant influence on obesity. Summary: The study suggests waist-to-height ratio could offer a simpler measure for identifying higher levels of visceral fat and related health risks compared with BMI. It highlights limitations of BMI for certain groups and notes environmental factors in obesity. Undetermined at this time.