Waist to height ratio and the Ashwell® shape chart could predict the health risks of obesity in adults and children in all ethnic groups

Purpose To outline the benefits of the ratio of the waist to height ratio (WHTR) and its graphical representation in the Ashwell® shape chart for the assessment of the health risks of obesity. To show that it has potential to be used in all ethnic groups and in adults and children. Design/methodology…/approach A review of the benefits and limitations of the use of some different anthropometric measures to assess the health risks of obesity. Those covered are the body mass index (BMI), the waist to hip ratio (WHR), the waist circumference (WC) and the waist to height ratio (WHTR). Findings Waist to Height Ratio (WHTR) has the potential to be globally applicable to different ethnic populations and to children as well as adults. Further validation, particularly of the suggested boundary values of 0.5 and 0.6, as used within the Ashwell® shape chart to indicate different levels of risk, is required. Originality/value This is the first paper to summarise the accumulating evidence for the benefits of using WHTR and the Ashwell® shape chart to assess health risk.