Anthropometric Indices Beyond Body Mass Index and Its Relationship with Metabolic Parameters

Abstract

Anthropometric measurements are used to assess body size and body composition. Anthropometric measurements are parameters that dietitians and other health professionals frequently use in clinics and research. However, some anthropometric measurements or indices have limitations. A typical example of this is that body mass index (BMI) is widely used to classify obesity but does not provide information relative to fat distribution in the body. In the literature, there are some anthropometric indices. However, they are not widely used in practice. Studies are determining the relationship of these indices with metabolic syndrome criteria. In this review, it was aimed to examine anthropometric indices, including body roundness index (BRI), hip index (HI), visceral adiposity index (VAI), conicity index (CI), a body shape index (ABSI), abdominal volume index (AVI), and body adiposity index (BAI), and to investigate the relationship with metabolic parameters and chronic diseases.