# Better than BMI! What's your ABSI? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 31, 2013, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-than-bmi-whats-your-absi/667682 "2013-08-31T19:02:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2013, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-than-bmi-whats-your-absi/667682/21 "2013-09-01T04:43:04Z")
Sorry. Guy bias. Woman’s sizes … those are really worthless! But WC for this is just above upper edge of the hip bone which usually is somewhere near in line with the belly button, not tightly pulled at end of a normal exhalation. Official technique: > [@](#): > > To define the level at which the waist or abdominal circumference is measured, you must first locate and mark a bony landmark, the lateral border of the ilium. Have the SP stand and hold the examination gown above the waist. Lower the pants and underclothing of the SP slightly, and standing behind and to the right of the SP, palpate the hip area to locate the right ilium (see Exhibit 3-5). Draw a horizontal line just above the uppermost lateral border of the right ilium and then cross the line to indicate the midaxillary line of the body. Standing on the SP’s right side, place the measuring tape around the trunk in a horizontal plane at the level marked on the right side of the trunk. Hold the zero end below the measurement value. Use the mirror on the wall to ensure correct horizontal alignment of the measuring tape. This is especially useful when measuring overweight SPs or women with hourglass-shaped torsos. The recorder should also observe the SP to make sure that the tape is parallel to the floor and that the tape is snug, but does not compress the skin. Make the measurement at the end of a normal expiration … ---
**Author:** ![Pai325](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pai325](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pai325)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2013, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-than-bmi-whats-your-absi/667682/22 "2013-09-01T07:04:18Z")
Not good, not bad. -.7 Average. Just like me. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2013, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-than-bmi-whats-your-absi/667682/23 "2013-09-01T16:29:56Z")
-1.9. But I don’t think the charts of mortality apply to me based on the complicating factors of my alphabet soup DNA. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2013, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-than-bmi-whats-your-absi/667682/24 "2013-09-01T19:14:34Z")
Why would you think that Una? Part of the attraction of this metric is that it seems to apply across the board. Of course it does not override other health information specific to an individual; it merely informs as to statistical risk based off of body shape and composition. Again, the value of it probably is greatest within the group with BMI of 22 to 35. Higher mortality rates for those under 22 (and even moreso under 18.5, officially “underweight”) and over 35 is pretty clear. (Sure some over 35 may be at lesser risk than others.) Individuals in those groups should be followed closely and we already know that. But those 22 to 35 are a very mixed bag. Roughly 1 in 4 of those 22 to 25, “normal” BMI, are _metabolically_ obese. And of those “overweight” at 25 to 30, and those with Grade 1 obesity (30 to 35) many are not only not at significant risk but are at lower than average risk because of the relatively low amounts of central obesity and relatively higher muscle mass (and that does not just mean body builders and serious athletes). It would be nice to have an objective metric to identify those who have normal BMI but who are at risk for having metabolic abnormalities and higher rate of mortality, and to identify those who are overweight and grade 1 obese by BMI who actually are at low risk. I am most interested in hearing from those whose BMIs are fine (and let’s use 22 to 25 or even 27 for that) whose score on ABSI is 0.5 or greater. My suspicion is that those are likely to be people with low fitness and who will admit to a bit of a paunch. If I am guessing right some of these people may already be identified as having as being prediabetic or have hypertension or elevated cholesterol or more than one of them. Obviously this is less than a scientific approach to see … but still. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2013, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-than-bmi-whats-your-absi/667682/25 "2013-09-01T19:50:18Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > Why would you think that Una? Part of the attraction of this metric is that it seems to apply across the board. Of course it does not override other health information specific to an individual; it merely informs as to statistical risk based off of body shape and composition. Just that I’m so different that its hard to apply even general stats to someone like me. I have no quarrel with the metric. ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2013, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-than-bmi-whats-your-absi/667682/26 "2013-09-01T20:08:23Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > **Renee** what you win is a new tape measure! 🙂 > > I do think the _accurate_ measurement of WC is the tricky bit for this. It has be the right spot in the right way. Not pants size! My pants size is 29 to 30 depending on the brand; my WC measured as directed is 34.5 to 35 depending on the exhalation. There are also other protocols for WC out there and within their studies they are fine; but for this tool this \*particular \*techinique of measuring WC must be followed. OK, I was using the measurement of what I would call my actual waist, which is 27". I have an hourglass figure. With the top of hip bones measurement my score is -1.8. My BMI is 25, right on the cusp of “overweight” but I’m very fit and unusually strong for a woman. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2013, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-than-bmi-whats-your-absi/667682/27 "2013-09-01T20:19:55Z")
**Una** , I am aware of the ways in which you are different but still, no offense, you still aint _that_ special. 🙂 Seriously, it is accurate for males and females and there is no reason that it would not be as true for someone who initially was intersex classified as male and is now fully female. In your case the result seems likely accurate given your athleticism. You may not be at your past levels and I am sure have a higher percent body fat than you did when you were a competitive male fencer but you are still likely pretty dang fit. **Renee** , now _that_ I believe. And consistent that many studies show the lowest mortality rates for those in the high normal to low overweight BMI categories and your stated fitness and strength. ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2013, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-than-bmi-whats-your-absi/667682/28 "2013-09-01T20:21:41Z")
🙂 I also have awesome genes, women in my family live forever. I expect to hit 120. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2013, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-than-bmi-whats-your-absi/667682/29 "2013-09-01T20:54:58Z")
-2.7 ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2013, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-than-bmi-whats-your-absi/667682/30 "2013-09-04T15:09:09Z")
It seems impossible for me to get a positive score, even if I go back to when I was nearly 100 pounds heavier. In fact, the score is about the same, as it seems to be correlated to a waist/weight ratio, and mine so far has stayed pretty much the same, around 6-7 pounds per inch. Granted, I am young, so my mortality rate is already pretty low. But that isn’t included in the metric, is it? ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2013, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-than-bmi-whats-your-absi/667682/31 "2013-09-04T15:51:15Z")
This seems kind of wrong; I’m a big fat tall guy with a BMI of 39 (6’1", 302 lbs, 48 waist), and yet this ABSI metric says that I have a 0.076, which is not very high above zero, and the ABSIz is -1.3. How does that work? It’s implying that I’m somehow better off by this metric than by BMI. Is it somehow recognizing that while I’m 6’1" and 302 lbs, that I’m probably significantly more muscular than the average 300 lb person? ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2013, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-than-bmi-whats-your-absi/667682/32 "2013-09-04T19:35:47Z")
BigT, you have an accurate WC from 100 pounds ago? Impressive. In any case the response is the same also to bump, yes, it reflects body composition and captures the relative risk of where the fat is and how much is muscle mass. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-than-bmi-whats-your-absi/667682.md?page=1)