Body Adiposity Index Calculator (BAI)

Q: What is considered as a 'normal' or 'healthy' body adiposity index for men and women ?

For Women , 20-39 - 21% to 33%, 40-59 - 23% to 35%, 60-79 - 25% to 38%. For Men , 20-39 - 8% to 21%, 40-59 - 11% to 23%, 60-79 - 13% to 25%.

Q: How is BAI measured?

BAI can be measured with a tape in standing position.Wrap it around the largest part of the hip region for the hip circumference measurement. Note down the value in cms. For height, stand against a wall, and measure from top part of head to toe in straight position. Convert the cm or inches to meter. Apply the formula for BAI (hip circumference/(height)^1.5) - 18

Q: What is the difference between bai and bmi?

BMI uses body weight to find the fat percentage.BAI does not use body weight but uses hip circumference to find the BAI. Both use height as the common parameter.

Q: Which is more accurate BAI or BMI?

They are complementary to each other.Both have limitations and not the ideal most accurate measure but useful as a rough indicator of body fat percentage.Since BMI uses weight, it has the drawback of not being able to distinguish between muscle mass weight vs fat weight.Also BMI does not have age or gender specific classification.BAI was formulated to address age and gender specific classification.

Find Your Body Fat Percentage using Height and Hip Measurements

Home Wellbeing

Body Adiposity Index (BAI)

Your Height

ft cm

Your BAI (%)

Hip Circumference

cm in

Age Group (Optional)

Gender (Optional)

How to calculate Body Fat Index using this tool?

The calculation for Body Adiposity or Fat Index is dependent on your height and hip measurements.
First, select the unit for height - either feet and inches or meter. Enter your height in the field labelled as Your height
Select the unit for Hip measurement. You can enter the hip measurement in inches or centimeter
Select Age Group and Gender . Both are optional.
Click on the Calculate button. Your BAI score is displayed in %.
Refer the Classification chart to find out if it's healthy, overweight , underweight or obese range

Formula to calculate Body Adiposity Index

BAI = (hip circumference/(height)^1.5) - 18

hip circumference is in centimeters and height is in meters.

You can measure your hip circumference using a measuring tape

Wrap it around the largest portion of the hip while in standing position

Note it down in cm or inches. In above formula, convert to centimeter if you have measured in inches

BAI classification for women:

Age(years)	Underweight	Healthy	Overweight	Obese
20-39	< 21%	21% to 33%	> 33%	> 39%
40-59	< 23%	23% to 35%	> 35%	> 41%
60-79	< 25%	25% to 38%	> 38%	> 43%

BAI classification for men:

Age(years)	Underweight	Healthy	Overweight	Obese
20-39	< 8%	8% to 21%	> 21%	> 26%
40-59	< 11%	11% to 23%	> 23%	> 29%
60-79	< 13%	13% to 25%	> 25%	> 31%

What is Body Adiposity Index?

Body Adiposity Index or BAI in short is a measure of the amount of body fat in humans. It is expressed in Percentage.
Adipose also means Fat. We can also refer to this measure as Body Fat Index.
The fat cells are stored in adipose tissue
BAI formula is based on hip measurement and height derived based on experiments and research
BAI value is used as an estimate to determine if a person is in normal, underweight, overweight or obese range
BAI Range varies based on age group and gender

Recommended BAI Table for Men and Women covering Age Groups 20 to 39 years

Note: This is computed based on what is considered as Normal BAI score for Men (8% - 21%) and for Women (21% to 33%) for Age group of 20 to 39 years.

Height (ft-in / cms)	Height (cm / m)	Hip Range (cm) Male	Hip Range (in) Male	Hip Range (cm) Female	Hip Range (in) Female
4 ft 10 in / 58 in	147 cm / 1.47 m	47 cm - 70 cm	18 in - 28 in	70 cm - 92 cm	27.5 in - 36 in
4 ft 11 in / 59 in	150 cm / 1.5 m	48 cm - 72 cm	19 in - 28 in	72 cm - 94 cm	28 in - 37 in
5 ft / 60 in	152 cm / 1.52 m	49 cm - 74 cm	19.2 in - 29 in	74 cm - 96 cm	29 in - 38 in
5 ft 1 in / 61 in	155 cm / 1.55 m	51 cm - 76 cm	20 in - 30 in	76 cm - 99 cm	30 in - 39 in
5 ft 2 in / 62 in	157 cm / 1.57 m	52 cm - 78 cm	20.4 in - 31 in	77.1 cm - 101 cm	30.4 in - 40 in
5 ft 3 in / 63 in	160 cm / 1.6 m	53 cm - 79 cm	21 in - 31.1 in	79 cm - 104 cm	31 in - 41 in
5 ft 4 in / 64 in	163 cm / 1.63 m	54 cm - 81 cm	21.2 in - 32 in	81 cm - 106 cm	32 in - 42 in
5 ft 5 in / 65 in	165 cm / 1.65 m	56 cm - 83 cm	22 in - 33 in	83 cm - 109 cm	33 in - 43 in
5 ft 6 in / 66 in	168 cm / 1.68 m	57 cm - 85 cm	22.4 in - 33.4	85 cm - 111 cm	33.4 in - 43.7
5 ft 7 in / 67 in	170 cm / 1.7 m	58 cm - 87 cm	23 in - 34 in	87 cm - 114 cm	34 in - 45 in
5 ft 8 in / 68 in	173 cm / 1.73 m	60 cm - 89 cm	23.6 in - 35 in	89 cm - 116 cm	35 in - 46 in
5 ft 9 in / 69 in	175 cm / 1.75 m	61 cm - 91 cm	24 in - 36 in	91 cm - 119 cm	36 in - 47 in
5 ft 10 in / 70 in	178 cm / 1.78 m	62 cm - 93 cm	24.4 in -37 in	93 cm - 121 cm	37 in - 48 in
5 ft 11 in / 71 in	180 cm / 1.8 m	63 cm - 95 cm	25 in - 37.4 in	95 cm - 124 cm	37.4 in - 49 in
6 ft / 72 in	183 cm / 1.83 m	65 cm - 97 cm	25.5 in - 38 in	97 cm - 127 cm	38 in - 50 in
6 ft 1 in / 73 in	185 cm / 1.85 m	66 cm - 99 cm	26 in - 39 in	99 cm - 129 cm	39 in - 51 in
6 ft 2 in / 74 in	188 cm / 1.88 m	67 cm - 101 cm	26.3 in - 40 in	101 cm - 132 cm	40 in - 52 in
6 ft 3 in / 75 in	191 cm / 1.91 m	69 cm - 103 cm	27 in - 40.5 in	103 cm - 135 cm	41 in - 53 in
6 ft 4 in / 76 in	193 cm / 1.93 m	70 cm - 105 cm	27.5 in - 41 in	105 cm - 137 cm	41.3 in - 54 in
6 ft 5 in / 77 in	196 cm / 1.96 m	71.1 cm - 107 cm	28 in - 42 in	107 cm - 140 cm	42 in - 55 in
6 ft 6 in / 78 in	198 cm / 1.98 m	73 cm - 109 cm	28.7 in - 43 in	109 cm - 143 cm	43 in - 56 in
6 ft 7 in / 79 in	201 cm / 2 m	74 cm - 111 cm	29 in - 43.7	111 cm - 145 cm	43.7 in - 57 in
6 ft 8 in / 80 in	203 cm / 2.03 m	76 cm - 113 cm	30 in - 44 in	113 cm - 148 cm	44 in - 58 in
6 ft 9 in / 81 in	206 cm / 2.06 m	77 cm - 116 cm	30.3 in - 45 in	116 cm - 151 cm	46 in - 59 in
6 ft 10 in / 82 in	208 cm / 2.08 m	79 cm - 118 cm	31 in - 46 in	118 cm - 154 cm	46.4 in - 61 in
6 ft 11 in / 83 in	211 cm / 2.1 m	80 cm - 120 cm	31.4 in - 47 in	120 cm - 157 cm	47 in - 62 in

What are the different methods to measure Body Fat?

There are 4 methods that have a relation to body fat measurement. These are

Body Mass Index (BMI) - height and weight
Body Adiposity Index (BAI) - height and hip
Relative Fat Mass (RFM) - height and waist
Waist to Hip Ratio (WHR) - waist and hip

Body Mass Index (BMI) gives a measure of body fat based on height and weight measurements. However, it does not distinguish between muscle mass and fat leading to some inaccuracies.
Body Adiposity Index (BAI) was evolved to improve upon BMI. BAI uses hip measurement instead of weight and height. The classification of BAI ranges is also based on gender and age and not generic as in BMI
Relative Fat Mass (RFM) uses waist and height measurements to estimate body fat %.
It gives a better measure of fat around the organs which is a key indicator of health risk. RFM has separate classification for men and women. It does not distinguish with age groups and has a common classification across all of them.
Waist to Hip Ratio (WHR) is more an indicator of body shape based on fat distribution. It classifies the shapes as Pear, Avocado and Apple and corresponding health risk for each. The ranges and classification are based on gender

Frequently Asked Questions on Body Adiposity Index Calculator

What is considered as a 'normal' or 'healthy' body adiposity index for men and women ?

For Women ,
20-39 - 21% to 33%
40-59 - 23% to 35%
60-79 - 25% to 38%
For Men ,
20-39 - 8% to 21%
40-59 - 11% to 23%
60-79 - 13% to 25%

How is BAI measured?

BAI can be measured with a tape in standing position.
Wrap it around the largest part of the hip region for the hip circumference measurement. Note down the value in cms.
For height, stand against a wall, and measure from top part of head to toe in straight position. Convert the cm or inches to meter.
Apply the formula for BAI (hip circumference/(height)^1.5) - 18

What is the difference between bai and bmi?

BMI uses body weight to find the fat percentage.
BAI does not use body weight but uses hip circumference to find the BAI.
Both use height as the common parameter.

Which is more accurate BAI or BMI?

They are complementary to each other.
Both have limitations and not the ideal most accurate measure but useful as a rough indicator of body fat percentage.
Since BMI uses weight, it has the drawback of not being able to distinguish between muscle mass weight vs fat weight.
Also BMI does not have age or gender specific classification.
BAI was formulated to address age and gender specific classification.

Is Adipose same as fat?

Yes, Adipose cells or tissue is referred to as body fat. They store fat as globules.
Fat under the skin is Subcutaneous fat (thigh, hip and those under the skin).
They are also referred as SAT - Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue.
Visceral fat is the fat surrounding liver and other organs and is located deeper inside the body.
They are also referred to as VAT - Visceral Adipose Tissue.