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Body Roundness Index

The index treats the body as an ellipse and measures how flattened it is. It captures the belly that BMI misses, so two people with the same BMI differ once their waists do. Values usually land between 1 and 16.

Your numbers

Body roundness index

3.36

Waist-height ratio

0.5

Formula

Body roundness index = 364.2 − 365.5 × √(1 − ((Waist (cm) ÷ 2π) ÷ (0.5 × Height (cm)))²)

It ignores weight, so it cannot tell muscle from fat. Read it next to BMI and the waist measurement itself.

What to enter

InputDefaultAccepted range
Height (cm) (cm)Height in centimetres; converted to metres inside the formula.1700 and up
Waist (cm) (cm)Waist at navel height, measured after breathing out.850 and up

Step by step

FormulaBody roundness index = 364.2 − 365.5 × √(1 − ((Waist (cm) ÷ 2π) ÷ (0.5 × Height (cm)))²)
With the default numbersBody roundness index = 364.2 − 365.5 × √(1 − ((85 ÷ 2π) ÷ (0.5 × 170))²)
AnswerBody roundness index = 3.36

Quick reference table

Results when only Height (cm) (cm) changes and everything else stays put.

Height (cm) (cm)Body roundness indexWaist-height ratio
8517.711
1286.960.664
1703.360.5
2550.760.333
34000.25

What each result means

ResultAt default values
Body roundness index3.36
Waist-height ratioWaist over height; the line people watch is 0.5.0.5

Common mistakes

It ignores weight, so it cannot tell muscle from fat. Read it next to BMI and the waist measurement itself.

Glossary

Height (cm)
Height in centimetres; converted to metres inside the formula.
Waist (cm)
Waist at navel height, measured after breathing out.
Waist-height ratio
Waist over height; the line people watch is 0.5.

Frequently asked questions

Q. How is Body Roundness Index calculated?

Body roundness index = 364.2 − 365.5 × √(1 − ((Waist (cm) ÷ 2π) ÷ (0.5 × Height (cm)))²) — The index treats the body as an ellipse and measures how flattened it is. It captures the belly that BMI misses, so two people with the same BMI differ once their waists do. Values usually land between 1 and 16.

Q. Can you walk through an example?

With Height (cm) 170cm, Waist (cm) 85cm, the answer is Body roundness index 3.36.

Q. What do I need to enter?

Enter Height (cm), Waist (cm). The result recalculates as you type, and an empty box counts as zero.

Q. How much does the answer move if I change a number?

Changing only Height (cm) (cm) moves the answer to Height (cm) (cm) 85 → Body roundness index 17.71 and Height (cm) (cm) 340 → Body roundness index 0. The table below lays out five steps.

Q. How are the numbers rounded?

Money is shown to the nearest whole unit, percentages to one decimal place and everything else to two. What you see is rounded; the calculation itself carries the unrounded value forward.

Q. Anything to watch out for?

It ignores weight, so it cannot tell muscle from fat. Read it next to BMI and the waist measurement itself.

Related calculators

These calculators help you understand health figures; they do not replace diagnosis or prescription. See a clinician if you have symptoms.