The body mass index (BMI) and body roundness index (BRI) are two measurements used to assess health indicators related to weight and body fat distribution. While BMI has been criticized for not accounting for different factors like body fat content and distribution, BRI looks at waist circumference and height to reflect fat proportion in the body. Research has suggested that higher BRI trajectories may increase the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, which is a leading cause of death worldwide. Doctors can use factors like diet and exercise to determine someone’s risk for cardiovascular disease and identify appropriate action steps to improve health.
Cheng-Han Chen, MD, who is an interventional cardiologist, explained that BMI has limitations in assessing a person’s health status because it does not differentiate between fat mass and muscle, and it does not account for racial, ethnic, and sex differences. In contrast, BRI takes into account waist circumference and height, providing a more accurate reflection of body fat distribution than BMI. Mir Ali, MD, a bariatric surgeon, noted that increased abdominal fat, reflected in a higher BRI, is a risk factor for conditions such as diabetes and hypertension, highlighting the importance of considering BRI in health assessments.
The recent study examined the relationship between BRI trajectories and cardiovascular disease risk in Chinese middle-aged and older participants. The researchers analyzed data from 9,935 participants, excluding those with preexisting cardiovascular disease or missing BRI data. The study found that participants with moderate-stable and high-stable BRI trajectories were at a higher risk of cardiovascular disease compared to those in the low-stable trajectory group. After adjusting for variables, the increased risk for cardiovascular disease remained significant in the moderate and high BRI trajectory groups, indicating that prolonged increases in BRI may elevate cardiovascular disease risk.
The research findings suggest that tracking BRI trajectories over time can improve the prediction of cardiovascular disease risk and potentially guide preventive measures to reduce the risk of developing heart-related conditions. While the study has limitations, such as its focus on a specific demographic group and reliance on self-reported data, the results point to the potential benefits of using BRI as a health indicator. Further studies with more diverse populations and long-term follow-up may help confirm the association between BRI and cardiovascular disease risk. Incorporating BRI alongside other health indicators like BMI can provide a more comprehensive assessment of an individual’s risk for cardiovascular disease and facilitate targeted interventions for better heart health.
