That’s the question researchers at the University of Florida recently set out to answer. What they found instead was that Body Fat Percentage, or BFP, was a much better predictor of mortality risk than Body Mass Index, or BMI. These findings may change the way health providers view and treat patients’ obesity-related health risks. The paper analyzed data from 4,252 working-age adults between the ages of 20 and 49. It showed powerful associations between high levels of body fat and risk of death over a 15-year timespan.
Collectively, these findings uncover a shocking reality. Adults with high BFP, taken as adults with BFP ≥ 27% for men and ≥ 44% for women experience an astounding 78% higher risk of dying from any cause than those with lower BFPs. Alarmingly, participants with high BFP were almost two times more likely to die from health-related causes during the study period. Moreover, they were 3.62 times more likely to die from heart disease.
Implications of Body Fat Percentage
The finding in the latest edition of the journal Annals of Family Medicine is a big deal. If anything, the study demonstrates that BMI is a poor variable for predicting mortality risk. In their analysis, they found no statistically significant relationship between BMI and all-cause mortality. As Dr. Frank Orlando, one of the researchers, noted, “Body mass index has no statistically significant relationship with all-cause mortality.” This illustrates how using BMI in isolation may not be enough to properly identify those at risk, especially among younger age groups.
Dr. Orlando further elaborated on the implications of these findings, stating, “Now remember, using BMI did not flag any risk at all in this younger population, which isn’t one we typically consider to be at high risk for heart disease.” Understanding the opportunity to identify and intervene on body composition earlier in life might allow for more targeted health interventions to be developed and deployed.
Waist Circumference Also Matters
Along with Body Fat Percentage, waist circumference proved to be the strongest risk indicator. For example, men in the U.S. with a waist measurement greater than 44 inches have increased mortality risks. Women with a waist size over 35 inches would agree. This two-fold method of looking at both basic body fat percentage and waist circumference provides a deeper insight into the health risks tied to obesity.
Arch Mainous, another member of the research team, underscored the need for precise measurements of body fat. He stated, “Current BIA models provide reproducible results in less than one minute.” In his view, the accessibility and affordability of these models can equip healthcare providers to better target patients who would benefit from obesity and body fat reduction strategies.
A Shift in Health Assessments
Taken together, these findings from this new study help shake the long-standing complacency in relying on BMI as a primary measure of health. “BMI is just so ingrained in how we think about body fat,” Mainous remarked. He believes it’s time to transition towards methods that provide clearer insights into individuals’ health risks. “I think the study shows it’s time to go to an alternative that is now proven to be far better risk predictors,” he added.
