Evaluating CMR

The Limitations of WHR

Unlike waist circumference, WHR is not necessarily a measure of absolute abdominal fat mass. It is, however, a measure of abdominal fat relative to lower body mass. As such, a relatively lean individual could theoretically have the same WHR as an obese individual. In addition, when using WHR, it is unclear whether an individual has a high WHR due to a high waist circumference (numerator) or a small hip circumference (denominator) (Figure 1). This is important as the health risks associated with a high waist circumference, and the measures to treat them, may differ from the health risks and interventions associated with a small hip circumference. For example, individuals with a high waist girth may benefit from reducing their obesity, whereas resistance training may be better for individuals with a small hip circumference due to low muscle mass. Interpreting WHR and choosing the appropriate treatment is complicated and likely provides little insight over waist and hip circumferences alone.