BMI and the Body Roundness Index: An Inadequate Health Measure

• BMI, or Body Mass Index, is a common health check-up tool, with calculators available online.
• However, experts argue that BMI is an inaccurate measure of health, with several limitations.
• The Body Roundness Index (BRI), developed by U.S. mathematician Diana Thomas, measures how round one is.
• BRI scores range from 1 to 15, with very high or very low scores (over 6.9 or under 3.41) considered at the most risk for illnesses.
• BMI, based on weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared, is not always accurate in determining body composition.
• BRI scores also have limitations with different ethnic groups, as they were created using data from 19th century Europeans.
• BRI scores consider waist circumference and calculate percent body fat, showing an egg-like outline with a green region, indicating healthy body size.
• The green zone indicates the risk of metabolic illnesses, even at the lower end of body size.

BMI and Health Risks in Asian Populations

• BMI was initially proposed as an indicator for mortality risk in Asian populations, but experts argued it may not be applicable.
• High levels of visceral fat, particularly in the abdomen, can lead to metabolic syndrome and other health issues.
• Indians are genetically predisposed to gaining weight around the abdomen, making them more susceptible to insulin resistance and diabetes.
• Guidelines from the National Institute of Nutrition suggest BMIs ranging from 23 to 27.5 are considered overweight for Asians due to their higher percentage of body fat.
• Alternatives to BMI include waist-height ratios, which are simple indexes that indicate good shape if waist circumference is less than half of height.
• BMI does not always accurately indicate health risks, as thin people and children are also at risk.
• Studies have shown that Body Roundness Index (BRI) may be better at predicting health risks than BMI.
• BRI may be subject to human error, with high levels of human error observed when manually measuring the abdomen.
• While debates continue on BMI, it is recommended that everyone use the simple waist to height calculation to keep track of their health.