A body shape index

A body shape index (ABSI) considers variables such as sex, age, height, body mass, and waist circumference to generate a certain value. When calculated, a higher ABSI indicates a higher amount of abdominal fat versus other parts of the body.

The ABSCI calculation can assess someone’s risk of premature mortality, independent of other factors such as height, weight, and BMI. We can also use ABSI to predict someone’s risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.

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It is important to note some limitations of ABSI. ABSI is only based on the body model, meaning that other factors contributing to life expectancy, such as comorbidities, are not considered in the calculation.

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After inputting your information into an ABSI calculator, a “z score” will be generated. The ABSI z scores and their respective mortality risks are listed below:
< -0.868: Very low
-0.868 to -0.272: Low
-0.272 - +0.229: High
>0.798: Very high

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If someone’s ABSI score is more than 0.798, they would be at increased risk of mortality and more likely to develop problems like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain types of cancer.