According to a study published online June 5, 2024, the body roundness index (BRI) could also be a more accurate measure than the body mass index (BMI) for predicting weight-related health risks. JAMA Network Open..
BMI has long been the usual for classifying an individual's body weight as very low, normal, chubby, or obese. Although BMI often reflects the quantity of fat in an individual's body, it doesn't account for fat distribution or muscle mass. (Muscle weighs greater than fat, and BMI can overestimate body fat in individuals with loads of muscle.)
The BRI addresses these deficiencies by specializing in an individual's height, waist size, and hip size. By taking weight out of the equation, the BRI provides a greater indicator of how much visceral fat surrounds the organs contained in the abdomen. Excess belly fat is linked to hypertension, heart disease, diabetes and a few cancers.
In the study, researchers recorded the BRI of nearly 33,000 people and followed them for 20 years. They found that a high BRI was related to an increased risk of death during this era in comparison with a low BRI.
For example, individuals with a BRI of 6.9 or higher have a virtually 50 percent higher risk of early death than individuals with a BRI of 4.5 to five.5. At the opposite end of the spectrum, people age 65 and older who had a really low BRI (lower than 3.4) also had the next risk of early death. This shouldn't be surprising, as a really low number often signifies that the person is malnourished or has a big medical condition causing weight reduction.
Photo: © Worthy Images/Getty Images