Reading on Fox News today a report by scientists proposing a new Body Adiposity Index, which relies on height and hip measurements, as a more effective/flexible alternative to the Body Mass Index (BMI), that calculates the ratio of a person’s height to weight.

Better Than a BMI? New Obesity Scale Proposed – FoxNews.com.

The BMI is the so-called ‘gold standard’ of body fat assessment, but has been widely criticized for not being flexible across gender or ethnic groups, or even for athletes who carry extra lean body mass.

The BAI by comparison is more flexible across racial groups: the scientists proposing the scale confirmed it with a DEXA (dual-energy X-ray absorption) scanner using data from Mexican-American and African American populations.

The BAI  formula is not published as part of the Fox Story, it is described as a ‘complex ratio of hip circumference to height’ that can be calculated by doctors or nurses using a computer or calculator.

“Until the BAI is considered widely confirmed and adopted we’ll continue to use the BMI at Hospital Angeles,” said Dr. Calleja.

If you are interested in learning more about LAP-BAND contact the Angeles Medical team today.