A recently published study suggests that body “roundness” index may be a better measure of health than body mass index (BMI).
The article, “Body roundness index and all-cause mortality among U.S. adults,” was published in this month’s Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). It advocates the use of the Body Roundness Index (BRI), created in 2013.
BMI has been a measure of obesity since the 1980s and is calculated by dividing a person’s weight by their height in feet squared. It was first proposed by the Belgian mathematician Lambert-Adolphe Jacques Cotre in the 19th century.
On the BMI scale, any number below 18.5 is considered underweight. A BMI between 25 and 30 is considered overweight, and a BMI score over 30 is considered obese.
Hostage sleep tape trend grows as doctors warn of potential dangers
A new study advocates using the body roundness index (BRI) to replace body mass index (BMI). (iStock)
Although body mass index is the standard way to measure obesity, it has its drawbacks. For example, because muscle increases weight, a healthy, muscular person of a certain weight may be considered overweight or obese based on BMI.
BRI, on the other hand, is calculated using height and weight circumference, not just height and weight. BRI scores are also determined using more complex mathematical equations.
“In addition to weight and height, the BRI also takes waist circumference into account, so it can provide a more complete reflection of visceral fat distribution,” the study explains.
The study found that the BRI was a more effective way to measure mortality in a group of patients.
More Americans smoke marijuana every day than drink alcohol, study claims
BMI is calculated by dividing a person’s weight by their height in feet squared. (iStock)
“The BRI was found to be superior to other anthropometric measures in assessing the risk of various clinical endpoints, including cardiometabolic disease, renal disease, and cancer,” the study states.
The researchers also said their findings suggest the BRI “may hold promise as a novel anthropometric measure associated with all-cause mortality.”
“Our findings provide compelling evidence for the use of BRI as a non-invasive and readily available screening tool for estimating mortality risk and identifying high-risk individuals, a novel concept that could be incorporated into public health practice, pending consistent validation by other independent agencies.
The American Medical Association (AMA) has targeted BMI in the past. Last year, a report from the American Medical Association (AMA) called the use of BMI “imperfect” and “problematic” and claimed it had been used for “racist exclusion”.
Click here to subscribe to our health newsletter
The BRI uses height and weight circumference, not just height and weight. (iStock)
“BMI cutoffs are based on an imaginary ideal of white people and [do] without regard to a person’s gender or race,” reads a report presented at the 2023 AMA Annual Meeting.
Fox News contributor Dr. Mark Siegel criticized the accusations, calling the criticism “political, not medical.”
“I don’t believe the AMA is engaging in cancel culture, but now that they’re canceling the BMI, that’s what I’m concerned about at least starting to push me toward obesity,” Siegel said.
Click here to get the Fox News app
Recent research claims that BRI is a more effective way to assess people’s health status. (iStock)
“It’s not racism – it’s called medicine.”
Fox News Digital’s Melissa Rudy contributed to this report.
