Analytical studies have shown that people with more fat accumulation around their waist are at a higher risk of developing coronary vascular disease as compared to those with fat accumulation elsewhere in the body. The ratio of the circumference of the waist to that of the hips, termed the waist-hip ratio, has been found to be better than the body mass index (BMI) in assessing obesity and effectively predicting the tendency to develop lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, strokes, and heart disease in the obese.

This ratio helps to determine the type of fat distribution, whether feminine (gynoid or pear obesity) or masculine (android or apple obesity). Therefore, it can be used as a simplistic monitoring tool in weight management.