A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) suggests that a new body measurement called Body Roundness Index (BRI) may be a more accurate way to assess health compared to the traditional Body Mass Index (BMI).
BMI, which has been used since the 1980s to measure obesity, calculates a person’s weight in relation to their height. However, BMI has limitations as it may categorize muscular individuals as overweight or obese due to their higher weight.
On the other hand, BRI takes into account not only height and weight but also waist circumference, providing a more comprehensive view of visceral fat distribution. The study found that BRI was more effective in predicting mortality rates and risks of various diseases such as cardiometabolic disease, kidney disease, and cancer.
The researchers believe that BRI could be a valuable tool for assessing mortality risk and identifying high-risk individuals in public health practice. The American Medical Association (AMA) has previously criticized BMI for its limitations, suggesting that it does not consider factors such as gender or ethnicity in its calculations.
Despite some criticisms of BMI, not everyone agrees with the need to replace it with BRI. Some experts argue that BMI is a simple and effective tool to assess obesity and initiate discussions about weight management. Dr. Marc Siegel, a Fox News contributor, dismissed claims that BMI is racist, emphasizing that it is a valuable medical tool.
Overall, the discussion around BMI and BRI highlights the ongoing debate in the medical community about the most effective ways to measure health and assess obesity-related risks. While BRI shows promise in providing a more detailed assessment, BMI continues to be a widely used metric for evaluating weight status and overall health. The shift towards embracing new measurement tools like BRI may require further validation and research in the field of public health.