21/07/2012
farewell bmi units, hello absi
Body mass index (BMI) is a widely used indicator of obesity, but a new study suggests it may not be the best predictor of whether your weight raises your risk of death.full article - abc newsResearchers at The City College of New York developed a new obesity measurement tool called A Body Shape Index (ABSI) that combines BMI and waist circumference.
Waist circumference is a measure used to determine the amount of belly fat a person has. Abdominal fat has been linked to a number of health conditions, including high cholesterol, insulin resistance and high blood pressure.
The researchers measured ABSI in more than 14,100 American adults who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) between 1999 and 2004. They found that a high ABSI, indicative of a large amount of belly fat, significantly increased the risk of premature death. A high BMI also predicted the risk of an early death, but to a lesser degree than ABSI.
absi bmi diet fitness health measuring skinny weight storyboard
