More accurate than BMI: How to calculate your body round index

When it comes to a healthy body weight, the BMI value is often used as a control. But as experts show, another value could be much more meaningful.

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Body mass index. A formula that relates body weight to height. This value is intended to indicate, among other things, whether a person is overweight or underweight. However, the index, or BMI for short, is repeatedly criticized. For example, it does not take into account how weight or body fat is distributed.

For this reason, doctors repeatedly advocate considering other control variables. Here’s how one study used an alternative value: the Body Round Index (BRI).

Researchers are looking at the BRI instead

This was developed by the American mathematician Diana Thomas. The BRI does not relate height to body weight like BMI, but rather to waist circumference.

“This calculation provides a more accurate assessment of visceral fat and thus the risk of chronic diseases such as heart attacks and diabetes,” say the obesity experts. The BRI focuses on the “roundness” of the body, so to speak.

That means: “That he People with a lot of visceral fat can identify more precisely – a significant advantage over BMI.” However, the calculation is much more complex:

364.2 − 365.5 × √(1 − ( Abdominal circumference in centimeters / 2π)² / (0.5 ×Body size in centimeters)²)

You can easily calculate the value using the calculator from FOCUS online:

The following limits apply to the BRI:

BRI < 3.41: Very slim body shape (lowest 20 percent of the population)
3.41 ≤ BRI < 4.45: Slim to average body shape (lower 20 to 40 percent of the population)
4.45 ≤ BRI < 5.46: Average body shape (mid 40 to 60 percent of the population)
5.46 ≤ BRI < 6.91: Above-average body roundness (upper 60 to 80 percent of the population)
BRI ≥ 6.91: High body roundness (top 20 percent of the population)

Increased BRI value indicates health risk

The study shows: An increased BRI value is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

As early as 2023, Chinese scientists were able to show that people with high BRI values had a 50 percent increased risk of death. And: This also applied to those with extremely low values. According to experts, this could indicate that malnutrition and muscle loss are also becoming health problems.

Is BRI better than BMI?

“The body roundness index offers an exciting alternative to the traditional BMI,” write the experts at the Obesity Clinics.

People with increased visceral fat in particular could benefit from a more detailed analysis of their health. “Nevertheless, the BMI remains an important guideline.” It remains to be seen whether the BRI will play a larger role in the future.