Mixed
The joint use of Body Mass Index (BMI) and A Body Shape Index (ABSI) provides a significantly better assessment of cardio-metabolic risk factors (high triglycerides, low HDL, high fasting glucose) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) thickness than using BMI alone.
If you are assessing metabolic health, do not rely on BMI alone. Calculate your A Body Shape Index (ABSI) using your waist circumference, height, and weight. Using both BMI and ABSI together provides a much more accurate picture of your risk for high triglycerides, low HDL, and high blood sugar than BMI by itself. This is especially important if you have a 'normal' BMI but carry weight around your midsection.
Compared to BMI alone, the joint use of BMI and ABSI yielded significantly improved associations for having high triglycerides (BIC = 5261 vs. 5286), low HDL (BIC = 5371 vs. 5381), high fasting glucose (BIC = 6328 vs. 6337) but not high blood pressure (BIC = 6580 vs. 6580).
Why this rating
Large sample size (n=6081), standardized measurements, and robust statistical modeling (GLM with BIC comparison), though it is a cross-sectional observational study.
Source
Association of Body Shape Index (ABSI) with cardio-metabolic risk factors: A cross-sectional study of 6081 Caucasian adults
Simona Bertoli et al. · PLoS ONE · 2017
DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0185013
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