Conicity index

Conicity index (CI) is another indicator of weight and overall health. Experts created the conicity index as a way to evaluate obesity and body fat distribution. To do so, the equation considers waist circumference, weight, and height.

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CI is important to understanding body fat distribution, as when fat accumulates in the abdominal region, the body transforms from a cylindrical shape to a double-cone shape. Therefore, people with a higher CI tend to have abnormal abdominal fat distribution relative to their height and weight. The following conicity indices are associated with the following body shapes:
Biconcave: <1.0
Cylindrical: 1.0
Biconic: >1.0

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As we know, high abdominal fat is associated with several health risks. Thus, we can use CI as an indicator for visceral fat, cardiovascular risk, coronary artery disease risk, and lipid alterations. More specifically, visceral fat accumulation is strongly linked to hypertension and diabetes.