Body Shape Index Calculator

Calculate your Body Shape Index (ABSI) to assess mortality risk. ABSI is an advanced health metric that combines BMI with waist circumference to provide better risk prediction than BMI alone.

Weight *

Height *

Waist * ⓘ

Start filling in data to calculate your Body Shape Index

The Body Shape Index (ABSI) is an advanced health metric for mortality risk assessment:

Category	ABSI Range	Z Score Range	Mortality Risk
Very Low Risk	< 0.078	< -0.868 (below 10th percentile)	Below average risk
Low Risk	0.078 - 0.080	-0.868 to -0.272 (10th to 25th percentile)	Slightly below average
Average Risk	0.080 - 0.084	-0.272 to +0.229 (25th to 50th percentile)	Population average
High Risk	0.084 - 0.089	+0.229 to +0.798 (50th to 75th percentile)	Above average risk
Very High Risk	≥ 0.089	≥ +0.798 (above 75th percentile)	Significantly elevated risk

Note: ABSI combines waist circumference with BMI and height to predict mortality risk better than BMI alone.

Disclaimer: This calculator is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalized health guidance.

What is Body Shape Index (ABSI)?

A Body Shape Index (ABSI) is an advanced anthropometric measurement that combines waist circumference with BMI and height to predict mortality risk more accurately than BMI alone. Developed in 2012, ABSI has emerged as a powerful predictor of health outcomes.

Fun fact: ABSI was developed by researchers at City College of New York after analyzing data from over 14,000 adults. They found that ABSI could predict mortality risk independent of BMI, making it a revolutionary advancement in health assessment.

Unlike BMI, which treats all body shapes equally, ABSI specifically accounts for waist circumference relative to height and weight. This makes it particularly effective at identifying health risks associated with abdominal obesity, even in people with "normal" BMI.

ABSI is expressed as a Z-score, which compares your value to the average for your age and gender. This standardization makes ABSI applicable across different populations and age groups.

How is ABSI Calculated?

The ABSI calculation involves several steps:

Calculate BMI: Weight (kg) ÷ Height² (m²)
Apply ABSI formula: Waist Circumference ÷ (BMI^(2/3) × Height^(1/2))
Convert to Z-score: Compare with population averages by age and gender

The resulting Z-score indicates how many standard deviations your ABSI is from the population average:

Negative Z-score: Below average (lower risk)
Zero Z-score: Population average
Positive Z-score: Above average (higher risk)

Why ABSI is Superior to BMI

ABSI addresses several limitations of BMI:

Body fat distribution: ABSI accounts for where fat is stored, not just total amount
Visceral fat focus: Specifically targets dangerous abdominal fat
Age adjustment: Z-scores account for natural changes with aging
Muscle mass independence: Less affected by muscle mass variations than BMI
Mortality prediction: Stronger correlation with death risk than BMI alone

Health Implications

Research has shown that higher ABSI values are associated with increased risk of:

Cardiovascular disease and heart attacks
Type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome
Premature mortality from all causes
Certain cancers, particularly those linked to obesity
Sleep apnea and respiratory issues