Body Adiposity Index (BAI)
Estimate body adiposity without body weight using the Bergman formula (Obesity, 2011). Uses hip circumference and height only.
Results
What is it?
The Body Adiposity Index (BAI) estimates body fat percentage without needing a scale, using only hip circumference and height. It was developed by Bergman et al. (Obesity, 2011) as an alternative to BMI that more directly approximates adiposity.
How to use
Enter your hip circumference (cm or in) and height (cm or in). The formula is BAI = (hip ÷ height_m^1.5) − 18, where the result directly approximates body fat percentage.
Example scenario
A person with a hip circumference of 100 cm and height of 170 cm (1.70 m): BAI = 100 ÷ 1.70^1.5 − 18 = 100 ÷ 2.215 − 18 ≈ 27.2% body fat.
Pro tip
BAI was originally validated in Mexican-American and African-American populations and may be less accurate in other ethnic groups. Unlike BMI, it does not require body weight, making it useful in field settings where a scale is unavailable.