What is Body Roundness Index (BRI)?
[Image of Human Body Shapes Diagram]The Body Roundness Index (BRI) is a health metric developed in 2013 as an improvement over the traditional Body Mass Index (BMI). Unlike BMI, which treats the human body as a cylinder and only considers weight and height, BRI models the human body as an ellipse.
By incorporating waist circumference relative to height, BRI provides a better estimate of visceral fat (the dangerous fat stored around internal organs) and overall body fat percentage.
Why is BRI Better Than BMI?
The Flaw of BMI
BMI cannot distinguish between muscle and fat. A muscular athlete might be classified as "obese" simply because they are heavy. It also ignores where you carry weight.
The Advantage of BRI
BRI focuses on "central adiposity" (belly fat). Research shows that belly fat is a stronger predictor of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and all-cause mortality than simple weight.
Understanding Your Score
- 1 - 3.4: Generally considered low risk/lean.
- 3.4 - 6.9: Healthy range, but monitoring is advised as score increases.
- 7+: Associated with higher risks of metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular issues.
Disclaimer: This tool is for informational purposes only. Always consult a medical professional for health advice.
Compare Your Metrics
Curious how this compares to the old standard? Use our BMI Calculator to see the difference. You can also check your Pack Years if you are assessing overall health risks.