The Body Roundness Index (BRI) offers a more precise assessment of your body shape and possible health risks than the classic BMI. Use our free BRI calculator to quickly find out how your body shape relates to your waist circumference and height. The BRI takes into account the distribution of fat in the body - an important factor for your health.
The Body Roundness Index (BRI) is an innovative health indicator that assesses body shape based on height and waist circumference. It enables a more precise assessment of the roundness of the body and provides valuable information on possible health risks. The fat distribution in the abdominal area in particular, which is measured with the BRI, plays a decisive role in your health.
Calculate your BRI value easily with our online calculator. It not only provides you with your value, but also an interpretation of the results.
The BMI only takes weight and height into account and neglects important factors such as fat distribution and muscle mass. This can lead to misjudgements, for example in the case of well-trained people with a high proportion of heavy muscle mass, who receive the same result as people with little muscle but a high body fat percentage. The Body Roundness Index (BRI), on the other hand, integrates the waist circumference into the calculation and provides a more precise assessment of body shape. Visceral fat in particular, which accumulates in the abdominal area and is associated with increased health risks such as cardiovascular disease or diabetes , is better detected with the BRI. As a result, the BRI offers a differentiated and more meaningful analysis.
The Body Roundness Index (BRI) is calculated from your height and waist circumference. The “roundness” of your body is measured mathematically in order to assess your body shape and possible health risks.
What you need for the calculation
Measure the waist circumference at the narrowest point between the ribs and the hips, usually at the level of the navel. Make sure you stand upright and exhale naturally without pulling in your stomach.
The Body Roundness Index (BRI) provides an assessment of your body shape and helps to identify health risks. Depending on the BRI value, it is possible to determine whether your body shape is within the normal range or deviates from it. Here you will find the categories and recommendations for your BRI value:
Every person has a unique body shape that the BRI cannot fully reproduce. Factors such as muscle mass, fatty tissue, age and gender also play an important role. A personal consultation can help to better classify the results.
Your BRI value can vary depending on your age and gender, as your body shape and fat distribution change over the course of your life. Here are the average values for men and women by age group, based on study results:
Men:
Women:
These values can help you to compare and classify your BRI value. Please note, however, that individual health factors must be taken into account when interpreting the BRI and personal advice from specialists is recommended.
If your BRI is outside the normal range, whether due to very low or high values, we recommend that you seek advice from a specialist. This makes it easier to assess potential health risks and take appropriate measures.
If you are very preoccupied with your eating behavior, this could indicate an eating disorder. The most common forms include anorexia, bulimia, atypical eating disorders and binge eating. In this case too, specialist advice is advisable in order to receive targeted support.
In the obesity consultation, we care for patients who are overweight. We discuss individualized nutrition and exercise measures and evaluate surgical operations.
The Center for Eating Disorders offers a variety of therapeutic options to help you deal with eating problems.
In contrast to the BMI, the BRI takes into account not only weight and height, but also waist circumference. This provides a more accurate assessment of body shape and fat distribution, particularly visceral fat, which is associated with higher health risks.
The BRI can be more accurate in many cases, as it takes into account the distribution of fat in the body, especially the unhealthy abdominal fat. This makes it a better indicator of risks such as cardiovascular disease or diabetes.
The BRI is suitable for adults of all ages. However, it is less meaningful for pregnant women or very muscular people, as these groups have different body shapes. The BRI does not take into account any other factors such as gender, age or genetic differences. For a complete health assessment, it is advisable to also take other measurements and consult a doctor.
A BRI between 4.45 and 5.46 is considered the normal range. Values below or above this may indicate health risks that should be discussed with a specialist.
A high Body Roundness Index (BRI), which indicates an unfavorable distribution of body fat, particularly in the abdominal region (visceral fat), is associated with various health risks. The most important include: Cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, respiratory diseases, joint problems.
Yes, a very low BRI can indicate underweight, malnutrition or muscle wasting, especially in older people. This can also be associated with health risks.
The frequency with which the BRI should be checked depends on various factors, such as the state of health. For healthy adults without risk factors, it is sufficient to measure the BRI once or twice a year. People who are overweight or have known health risks should monitor their BRI regularly (approx. every 3 to 6 months).
Yes, studies have shown that the BRI can be a better indicator of health risks such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. However, the BMI remains a widely used standard in many medical fields.
Yes, you can improve your body composition and positively influence the BRI through a healthy diet, regular exercise and building muscle mass.