Mixed
The Chinese Visceral Adiposity Index (CVAI) provides a more accurate assessment of visceral fat dysfunction and metabolic risk than BMI or waist circumference in Chinese adults, particularly for identifying metabolically unhealthy normal-weight individuals.
If you are Asian or Chinese, do not rely on BMI or waist circumference alone to judge your metabolic health. Use a calculated index (CVAI) that includes your BMI, waist circumference, and blood lipid levels (Triglycerides and HDL). This is especially critical if you have a 'normal' weight but feel metabolically unwell, as you may have high visceral fat that BMI misses.
CVAI was more valuable compared to BMI and waist circumference in evaluation of metabolic risks (all P < 0.001), even in subjects with metabolically unhealthy normal weight (MUNW) and metabolically healthy obese/overweight (MHO).
Why this rating
Large sample size (n=6980) and external validation, though it relies on HOMA-IR as a proxy for visceral fat function in the validation cohort rather than direct imaging.
Source
A indicator of visceral adipose dysfunction to evaluate metabolic health in adult Chinese
Mingfeng Xia et al. · Scientific Reports · 2016
DOI 10.1038/srep38214
Related findings · Mixed
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