What are anthropometric indices?

Anthropometric indices for adults:

Following are anthropometric indices for adults:

BMI
Waist to hip ratio
Waist to height ratio
Body adiposity index
Fat free mass index

BMI Body mass index:

style="background-color: #f1c232 <;">In 10th centaury BMI was first developed by Adolphe Quetelet.

BMI also called Quetelet's index is " a measure of body fat based on height and weight that applies to adult men and women" often calculated by dividing body weight of individual in kg with the height in square meter. It is important indicator of one's nutritional status.

CALCULATION;

Metric: Weight in kg/ Height in meter square

English: Weight in pounds/ Height in inches square multiply by 703.

IDEAL BODY WEIGHT;

For males: 50kg+2.3 kg for each inch over 5 feet.

For females: 45.5kg+2.3kg for each inch over feet.

WHO cutt-off points for BMI:

BMI Classification

Less than 16.0 Severe chronic energy deficiency

16-16.9 Moderate chronic energy deficiency

17-18.49 Mild chronic energy deficiency

18.5-24.9 Normal weight

25-29.9 Pre-obesity

30-34.9 Obesity grade-1

35-39.9 Obesity grade-2

Above 40 Obesity grade-3

Waist to hip ratio WHR:

WHR is calculated as waist circumference divided by hip circumference. It is simple measure of central obesity and useful in estimation of individual body fat distribution and adiposity. WHR serves as a valuable indicator of metabolic complications. According to WHO WHR > 0.9 in male and > 0.85 in female act as significant benchmark for metabolic syndrome.

The WHO cutt-points for WHO

Male Female Classification

<0.90 <0.85 Normal

>0.90 >0.85 At risk

Waist to Height ratio WHtR:

WHtR is defined as the waist circumference divided by height and is measure of distribution of adipose tissue. It is an indicator of metabolic syndrome and obesity. It is considered as superior measure when compared to BMI.

Interpretation of waist to height ratio by gender

Females Males Interpretation

<0.35 < 0.35 Underweight

0.35-0.42 0.35-0.43 Slim

0.42-0.49 0.43-0.53 Healthy

0.49-0.54 0.53-0.58 Overweight

0.54-0.58 0.58-0.63 Obese

>0.58 >0.63 Very obese

Body adiposity index BAI:

An alternative index called body adiposity index was recently based on hip circumference and height to determine the adiposity of individual.

Body adiposity index= hip circumference cm / height m^1,5 - 18

Cutt-off values of BAI for males and females

AGE 20-40

Status BAI male BAI females

Underweight <8% 21%

Healthy 8-19% 21-23%

Overweight 19-25% 33-39%

Obese >25% >39%

AGE 41-60

Status BAI male BAI female

Underweight 11% <23%

Healthy 11-22% 23-35%

Overweight 22-27% 35-40%

Obese >27% >40%

Fat free mass index FFMI:

FFMI is an alternative measure of BMI and accounts for muscles mass. FFMI calculates amount of muscles in relation to one's height.

The FFMI score for an average male is about 19 and cannot go beyond 25 without use of steroids.

FFMI is a good indicator for subjects trying to lose weight by engaging in strength training making in a handy tool for body builder. Following are the equations through which we can estimate total body fat and FFMI:

Total body fat= weight in kg multiply by (body fat%/ 100)

FFMI= ( lean weight in kg/ 2.2 )/ {(feet multiply by 12+ inches) multiply by 0.0254}^2

Lean weight= weight in kg multiply by {1-( body fat%)/100}

FFMI ranges to body fat

MEN

FFMI Body fat% Description

17-18 10-18 Skinny guy

18-20 20-27 Average guy

19-21 25-40 Fat guy

20-21 10-18 Athlete

22-23 6-12 Advance gym freak

24-25 8-20 strength athlete

WOMEN

FFMI Body fat% Description

14-15 20-25 Skinny women

14-17 22-35 Average women

15-18 30-45 Fat women