The body mass index (BMI) and body roundness index (BRI) are both used as health indicators, with BMI measuring height and weight relationship and BRI measuring abdominal body fat and height. BMI has been criticized for not being a reliable measure of health due to its limitations in differentiating between fat and muscle mass, among other factors. Research is ongoing regarding the relationship between BRI and health, with recent studies suggesting that higher BRI trajectories may increase the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, a critical health issue that accounts for millions of deaths annually. Factors like diet and exercise are often assessed by doctors to determine an individual’s risk for cardiovascular disease and to identify necessary action steps.
Cheng-Han Chen, MD, notes that while BMI is a simple tool to use, it has many flaws that limit its ability to assess overall health status due to its failure to account for factors like body fat content, distribution, muscle, bone mass, and demographics like race and sex. Another measurement that may be useful is BRI, which looks at waist circumference and height to reflect fat proportion in the body. Increased abdominal fat has been associated with risk factors for adverse health conditions, such as diabetes and hypertension. The researchers in the current study wanted to examine the relationship between the trajectory of BRI and the risk of cardiovascular disease in middle-aged and older Chinese participants. They analyzed data from nearly 10,000 participants, assessing blood samples, blood pressure, lifestyle risk factors, and the incidence of stroke and cardiac events in relation to BRI trajectories.
The study found that participants in the moderate-stable and high-stable BRI trajectory groups were at a higher risk for cardiovascular disease compared to those in the low-stable BRI trajectory group. After adjusting for various variables, the moderate-stable and high-stable groups still showed increased risks for stroke and cardiac events compared to the low-stable group. The study suggests that an increase in BRI for a prolonged period can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and that considering BRI trajectories can help in better preventing cardiovascular disease. However, the study is limited in its focus on Chinese participants and may not be generalizable to other groups, as well as the self-reported data on cardiovascular disease diagnosis and potential biases that could affect the results.
Overall, the findings of the study highlight the potential benefits of using BRI as a health indicator to better assess an individual’s risk of developing cardiovascular disease. By taking into account waist circumference and height to reflect fat distribution in the body, BRI may provide more accurate information on health risks and indicate when interventions are needed to reduce those risks. This research underscores the importance of using multiple indicators, such as BRI, in conjunction with BMI, to assess overall health status and better prevent cardiovascular disease, a major global health issue. Further research is needed to confirm and expand upon these findings, including more diverse study populations and longer-term studies to assess the effectiveness of using BRI as a health assessment tool.
