The Science
BVI technology has been developed from over twenty years of research and development by pioneers in body measurement and a consortium of healthcare and scientific collaborators.
After development of the initial BVI software and algorithms, the outputs were analysed and validated against the BMI by Mayo Clinic. On 1,280 patients over a 10-year period, 105 different body volume combinations were considered, with over 134,000 permutations of body volumes evaluated.
Measurements
What We Provide
BVI goes beyond weight alone, analysing key body measurements to provide a clearer picture of health. By assessing fat distribution and body shape, it delivers more accurate insights into metabolic risk. The following are descriptions of the results BVI will provide.
Body Volume Index
BVI evaluates fat distribution and body shape to provide a clearer assessment of metabolic risk than BMI. It categorises risk into four levels - Low, Low to Medium, Medium to High, and High - allowing for better health and clinical decision-making.
Visceral Fat
Visceral fat is the fat stored deep inside the abdomen, surrounding organs like the liver, kidneys, and pancreas. It is highly metabolically active, meaning too much visceral fat increase the risk of type-2 diabetes, fatty liver disease, heart disease, and even some cancers over time.
Total Body Fat
Body fat, also called adipose tissue, plays a crucial role in energy storage, insulation, and hormone regulation. While some fat is essential for survival, excessive fat increases the risk of obesity-related diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers, affecting overall health.
Waist-to-Hip Ratio
Waist-to-Hip ratio compares waist size to hip size to determine fat distribution patterns. A higher ratio suggests more abdominal fat, which is linked to a greater likelihood of obesity-related conditions, including heart disease and insulin resistance.
Waist-to-Height Ratio
Waist-to-Height ratio is calculated by dividing waist size by total height. Research suggests that keeping the waist size less than half of height is a reliable marker of health risk across all ages, making it a simple yet effective screening tool.
Waist Circumference
Measured at the midpoint between the ribs and pelvis, waist circumference is a strong predictor of health risks. A larger waist size is associated with an increased risk of metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, and type-2 diabetes, making it a key health metric.
