RRP 3MT - Developing a New Regression Model to Determine Body Composition to Replace Body Mass Index

Body mass index (BMI) has been used as a measure of body composition of individuals for health risk assessments despite several factors that inhibit the equation’s ability to form a reliable output [1]. Gender, age, ethnicity, activity level, and body morphometrics all uniquely contribute to an individual’s overall body composition and are not accounted for using the standard (kg/m^2) BMI equation. Through the analysis of body anthropometric measures, gender, and activity level, a more valid and reliable representation of body composition can be established using a regression model equation. Expanding on previously established metric measures of the body roundness index (BRI), additional variables may be added to further ensure the validity and reliability of these tests and consequent medical preventions and diagnoses [2].

[1] Blackburn, H., & Jacobs Jr., D. (2014). Commentary: Origins and evolution of body mass index (BMI): continuing saga. International Journal of Epidemiology, 43(3), 665-669. https://doi.org/10.1093/ije/dyu061

[2] Thomas, D. M., Bredlau, C., Bosy-Westphal, A., Mueller, M., Shen, W., Gallagher, D., Maeda, Y., McDougall, A., Peterson, C. M., Ravussin, E., & Heymsfield, S. B. (2013). Relationships between body roundness with body fat and visceral adipose tissue emerging from a new geometrical model. Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.), 21(11), 2264–2271. https://doi.org/10.1002/oby.20408