ABSI Calculator (Body Shape Index) | Mortality Risk

What is A Body Shape Index (ABSI)?

A Body Shape Index (ABSI) was developed in 2012 by Krakauer and Krakauer to address a major flaw in BMI: it cannot distinguish between fat and muscle.

ABSI adjusts waist circumference for height and weight. If you have a large wait relative to your size, your ABSI goes up, indicating higher visceral fat. If you are heavy but have a small waist (like an athlete), your ABSI stays low.

Why ABSI Predicts Death Risk

Visceral Fat "Toxicity"

The PLOS ONE (2012) study found that high ABSI correlates with premature mortality even if BMI is normal. This is because ABSI specifically targets central obesity (visceral fat). Unlike subcutaneous fat (under the skin), visceral fat wraps around organs and releases inflammatory cytokines that drive heart disease and diabetes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good ABSI score?

Typically, an ABSI score falls between 0.0700 and 0.0900. However, the raw number means nothing without age context. A Z-score of 0 (average) is ideal. A negative Z-score indicates you have a smaller waist than expected for your weight (more muscle, less belly), which is protective.

How is this different from BRI?

Both measure body shape. BRI (Body Roundness Index) models the body as an oval to estimate total body fat %. ABSI is purely a risk predictor for mortality. BRI is better for tracking fat loss; ABSI is better for assessing long-term health survival.

Can I lower my ABSI score?

Yes. Since Height is fixed and Weight is part of the denominator, the only way to significantly lower ABSI is to reduce Waist Circumference while maintaining or increasing muscle mass. Crash dieting (losing weight and muscle) might not improve your score, but losing belly fat will.

Why does the calculation require 4 decimal places?

ABSI values are very small numbers (e.g., 0.0815 vs 0.0825). A tiny change represents a significant shift in body shape. We show 4 decimal places to give you an accurate trend line to track your progress over time.

Is ABSI better for athletes?

Yes. A bodybuilder with a "High BMI" (due to muscle) but a narrow waist will have a Low (Healthy) ABSI. This confirms that their extra weight is safe muscle, not dangerous visceral fat, effectively "clearing" them of the obesity label that BMI gave them.

References

Krakauer NY, Krakauer JC (2012). A New Body Shape Index Predicts Mortality Hazard Independently of Body Mass Index. PLOS ONE.
National Institutes of Health (NIH). ABSI Clinical Validation.
Medical News Today. ABSI: A Better BMI?

Tools & Data Verified by the EverydayCalculators Medical Research Team.

Last updated: January 2026.

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ABSI Calculator

What is A Body Shape Index (ABSI)?

Why ABSI Predicts Death Risk

Visceral Fat "Toxicity"

Frequently Asked Questions

References