Body shape and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR)

anne

Ruth, since Angie's, at least, body types always factor in shoulders, the WHR would only be part of the story I would think.

13 years ago

Keix

Veteran

There's also the question of what exactly constitutes "hip." For those of us with narrow hipbones, it's not so easy to tell.

For example, I have a curvy butt that all goes in the dimension which doesn't show up from a front view. Does that count as part of my "hip"? Does the WHR use high hip (bone) or low hip (widest point, possibly below crotch level and veering onto saddlebags)?

13 years ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I think WHR only gives a partial picture of body type. Underbust, bust, and shoulder measurements are also important components of overall shape.

Plus, a straightforward hip measurement can be deceiving for someone like me who has a wide hip but small backside, and also a wider measurement in the low hip/thigh (saddlebags). This contributes to my pear tendencies, but my relatively broad shoulders help balance me out. I am quite literally an hourglass on one side of my body and a pear on the other!

I think overall measurements and photos are more helpful.

13 years ago

Aziraphale

Veteran

I'm with the others. I think eyeballing it is the best way, and for that, you need a picture or two.

Waist-to-hip ratio might give you a clue, though. Clearly a figure like mine, with a less than ten inch difference between waist and hip, isn't going to suggest a curvy hourglass when reading the numbers off a page.

13 years ago

Anonymous

Those are all valid points. Actually, I've determined my own body shape based on what I look like when viewed from the front. According to Imogen Inside Out Style, I'm a figure X body shape. From the front, the tops of my thighs are slightly wider than my hips, and are in line with my shoulders. My hips basically slope gently from my short waist down to my thighs. There's definitely not a shelf like the figure 8 body shape.

I have a 0.75 WHR, which I'm not sure really means anything.

13 years ago

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I would also add that height plays a role. I'm .73 ratio at 5'4" but that same ratio is going to look curvier on a 5' lady and more straight on a 6' lady, you know?
I think visuals are the best way.

13 years ago

Aziraphale

Veteran

According to evolutionary biologists it does. A WHR of 0.7 is supposed to be a good (although clearly not flawless) indicator of fertility.

13 years ago

Anonymous

That's funny, Elisabeth. Probably right, too.

My 0.75 WHR is rather distinct because I'm only 5 ft. 2 in. tall.

13 years ago

Anonymous

Interesting. I'm off to take my measurements. Where is the hip measured? At its widest point?

13 years ago

Diana

Veteran

My WHR is 0.69. I have 13 inches difference between the two measurements. I have rarely met other women who have one as low as mine though, so I wonder about that 0.7 statistic...

13 years ago

Shu

Active Member

So a smaller number theoretically translates into a curvier shape?

Ruth, one thing I've found helpful in determining my proportions is to stand straight toward a mirror and measure the width of the silhouette of my shoulders, waist and hips straight across. I'm somewhat wide, so for me that's 18/12/18 or .66 WHR, and is only slightly off my actual WHR of .65 based on actual measurements.

ETA: If you try the above, equality of shoulder and hip width with a smaller waist should translate into an hourglass, smaller shoulders than hips to a pear, and smaller hip than shoulders to an IT. This method isn't as straightforward with an apple shape, because one may have belly she would like to dress to flatter even with a narrower looking waist-silhouette from the front (this has been my situation after many a pregnancy).

13 years ago

Anonymous

Thanks, Shu. I've actually done that. Interestingly enough, after 4 pregnancies, it seems I carry my weight out front. When I recently lost weight, I lost it proportionately; but it's visible when viewed from the side, not the front. My waist used to be 29 inches and my hips 38 inches; now my waist is 27 inches and my hips 36 inches. My bust measurement stayed the same, though. When I was heavier, I actually thought that if I continued to gain weight, I'd turn into an apple. Now that the weight's off, I look like an hourglass from both side and front, and I dropped a full size. I don't think my shoulder measurement has changed, but it still looks proportionately the same in the front as it did before my weight loss. I've often wondered if I'm what Trinny and Susannah call a Vase, but I don't think so because I'm not tall.

13 years ago

Shu

Active Member

I'll have to look into that. Is a vase a tall hourglass?

ETA: Just looked it up, "Vase are basically stretched Hourglasses, the same curves but on a generally taller frame." I guess that's me! (5'10")

13 years ago

Hopsie

Active Member

Although WHR is not really about body shapes as we discuss about them on this forum, it is used with body fat percentage measuring. Miss A and Miss B have the same body fat percentage, but WHR reveals that A storages her fat below waist and B a bit more in her midsection. That's why they also call it the "Apple-Pear Index" here in Finland.
As Elisabeth noted, a lower WHR on women indicates general healthiness, higher fertility (or maturity) and easier childbirth(?). They have discovered a link between breast cancer and a high WHR.

But yeah, in style shoulders and height matter. You could calculate your waist-to-shoulder ratio just like WHR. For example, my WHR fluctuates between 0.72 to 0.73, and my WSR is 0.68 = Dem shoulderss.

If you need to minimize the effect of a generous backside, a curved upper back or big upper arms, use flat measurements from the front. My ratios in 2D are 0.73 and 0.70 at the height of 5'8" = soft rectangle with a tiny hint of hourglass.
If it's a nice day and I'm feeling good, then hourglass.

Don't know if this is any good, just a thought.

Edit:
I like measurements and ratios, because for me eyeballing doesn't always work. "Oh jeez, what am I?" is my most frequent thought when I look myself in the mirror, numbers make it a bit clearer.

13 years ago

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