Body mass index (BMI≥σδ) is a widely used value to determine ÷ ←whether a person's he'<→ight is underweight, and the use of₩​ a fat scale can be quickly measur↓φσed as normal, overweight or ♦₩​≈obese. By dividing the weight o☆☆∞₽f a kilogram by the heig¥✘✘ ht of a square meter, BM≥≥​♣I is often criticized because it™♠β does not take into account gende₹↕r differences, nor does it disting'♣&uish between bone mass, <₹∑§muscle mass and excess fat. R≤™esearchers at the Woφ‍×rld Medical Center have now come up wit★₽h a formula they cla∏₹↓¶im can more accurately d•γ≤∏escribe a person's bo✘<≠✔dy fat.

Unlike BMI, which requires a set of wei≈×ght  scales and f✘¥at scales to calculate, the redevelo♠β±≠ped scheme requires only a tape m​→¥£easure. Called the Relat€‍×ive Fat Mass Index, λ÷♣it involves calculating t'™♠$he ratio of height to waist ci×₹rcumference measurements (in meters₹♦ &), multiplied by 20 b←♥efore subtracting the number to ™≈★consider gender differences. Lik &§×e this:

Fat mass index formula:

Male: 64 - (20 x height / waist circu♥↓‌mference, in meter) = fat mass ₽♣¶index

Female: 76 - (20 x height / wais♣€>t circumference, in meter) =× ≠€ fat mass index

Fat is usually stored around the wai $≥st when measured by fat sc‌☆ale. Many medical professionals b≠±‍£elieve that waist circumference is  ∑↔an important indicator o★≈f the risk of weight-related heal•∑ th problems. The tea₩∞β§m's findings seem σ to support this belieΩ"♣f in their new fat mass index★ε' formula.

Fat scales test more than 300 kinds of☆↓←↔ BMI conclusions

Using a database of 12,000 adults ©§βwho participated in tγ≥♠βhe Centers for Disease↕‌ Control and Prevention Heal<₹©th and Nutrition Survey, researchers te•≥sted more than 300 potential'©♣ formulas for estimating body®÷₽£ fat. After calculating the fat ♥☆λ§mass index of 3,500 pati≥•↑λents, they compared these wit∞÷↑h DXA or DEXA scans. DXAββ÷ scans, used to measure bone mi ♦σεneral density, are th←↔ought to be accurate methods for meas↕↔uring body tissues, bones, mu←♣scles and fat weights.It is found ↓£that the fat mass index achieved by↑÷₽& the above formula is the✘α↑§ closest to the DXA bodαλy scan.

The fat mass formula has now ≈∑♣★been validated in larg✘♥≥→e databases, said Dr. Johnson, s↔π ♣enior author of the study and ££>director of the Sports Spectacular λ•α∞Diabetes and Obesity Health a₹πnd Research Center. "This i§¶s a new measure of physical obesityπ≤≥≤, and health practit​‍β♣ioners can easily be treat​ ₽♣ed, and these patientαΩ¶γs often face serious health ₩β¶consequences, such as diabetes, highα≥↓₩ blood pressure and heΩφφ&art disease.

The BMI has proven to be &qu÷γ ot;better at measuring obesity•₩↕  than many of the indices♠↓' currently used in me™$dicine and science,but it needs‌&± to be tested in longitudinal stu™≤∑dies with a large popuΩ↑lation, the MD said. After s​↔¶o many fat scale tests, it is possibl♥₽‌≤e to determine whether th÷≠e percentage range of body fat a↕βα≈ssociated with serious obesity-related ×$health problems is normal or abΩ↔σ∑normal.