Difference between Hip and Waist

The human body is divided in numerous parts and they are all connected to each other to create a perfect balance. In order to understand your body properly, you have to study the differences between various parts.

Like many other body parts, the waist and hips are connected to each other; however, they are completely different from each other, and have separate functions. Both have their own importance, and play a vital role in helping human beings maintain balance while walking, running or even standing.

The first main difference between these two body parts is that the hips are located towards the lower side of the body whereas the waist is somewhere in the middle of the ribcage and the hips. You cannot call it the centre of your body exactly, but it is quite close.

Other than the visible difference, you have to understand the structural differences between the waist and hips. The hips are made of bone, but have the support of fat and muscles. On the other hand, the structure of the waist doesn’t include a specific bone. It consists of fats, muscles and other organs; the spine runs through the waist, but it doesn’t make much of a difference to it.

The hips support your legs, so that you can walk easily and balance your body perfectly. Therefore, you need to reduce the fat on that area of your body in order to move freely.

Compared to the hips, the waist doesn’t assist you in walking, but it helps in providing strength to the back. So, whenever you are about to lift heavy weights, you will be using the majority of your back muscles, and will be getting additional support from the waist too.

Apart from some of the other differences, the waist-hip ratio is also quite important in both males and females. A woman is considered healthier, if she has a ratio of 0.7. On the other hand, a man will be considered healthy with a waist-hip ratio of 0.9. So, you need to measure your body parts properly, to see whether you are fit or not.