Obesity is considered one of the main causes of premature death throughout the world (especially in the West); in terms of Body Mass Index (BMI), this condition is generally identified with a value equal to or greater than 30 points.
In addition to proportionally to BMI, today it is certain that the risk of death tends to increase relative to the shape of the body, in particular to the deposits of abdominal fat. The waist circumference (indicated by the acronym WC) is used as an indicator of complementary risk to the BMI, even if the high correlation of the WC with the BMI makes it difficult to identify the significance (it is quite common that as the BMI increases, also increases the toilet).
The Body Shape Index (BSI) is a parameter that evaluates the health implications that can be predicted by measuring and comparing the height, body mass and circumference of the waistline.
Compared to the Body Mass Index (BMI), the BSI is considered more accurate and therefore more important in the clinical evaluation. This major consideration concerns the inclusion of the waist circumference in addition to stature and body mass, the latter instead already observed in the very traditional BMI.
According to the original publication article (see bibliography on foot), the formula for calculating the Body Shape Index is:
BSI = Waist circumference / (BMI high at 2/3 * High stature at 2)
Body shape, as estimated by the BSI, is an important risk factor for premature mortality in the general population. The BSI expresses in a practical way the risk deriving from an excessive WC, in a complementary way to the BMI and to the evaluation of the other risk factors.
Bibliography:
A New Body Shape Index Predicts Mortality Hazard Independently of Body Mass Index - Krakauer, Nir Y .; Jesse C. Krakauer (2012-07-18) - PLOS ONE 7: e39504. doi: 10.1371 / journal.pone.0039504. Retrieved 2013-09-12.
