Waist-to-Hip Ratio (WHR)

Waist divided by hip circumference — a classic central-obesity index that predates WHtR. The military uses WHtR now, but WHR remains useful in health screening.

Educational reference only. The numbers on this page summarize public service regulations for planning purposes. They are not official medical, recruiting, or administrative determinations. Always confirm your status with a recruiter, commanding officer, or hiring agency using the official assessment.

Formula

WHR = waist (in) ÷ hip (in)

Healthy range

Men: < 0.90 healthy, ≥ 0.95 high risk · Women: < 0.85 healthy, ≥ 0.90 high risk.

Military & first-responder angle

Not used in current military standards (WHtR replaced it as the screen of choice in 2026), but still relevant when comparing older research and health-risk literature.

Calculator

The 2026 Department of Defense primary screen: waist ÷ height. Under 0.55 clears the joint-force screen; the Marine Corps sets a tighter 0.52.

Result

Meets Marine Corps (0.52) and DoD (0.55) screens
Waist-to-Height Ratio0.514
Marine Corps gate0.52
DoD joint-force gate0.55
Below the gate passes the initial screen with no tape test. At or above, your service runs a secondary body-fat assessment.

Quick answers

Is WHR still used by the military?
No — the 2026 DoD standard uses WHtR (waist ÷ height). WHR remains a common clinical index for cardiovascular risk.

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