Effectiveness of body roundness index in predicting metabolic syndrome: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Abstract
Summary: Body roundness index (BRI) is a new anthropometric index developed to predict both body fat and the percentage of visceral adipose tissue. Our aim was to investigate whether BRI is superior to traditional anthropometric indices in predicting metabolic syndrome (MetS). This systematic review and meta‐analysis was conducted using Pubmed, Scopus and Web of Sciences databases. The estimated pooled areas under curve (AUCs) for BRI predicting MetS was higher than body mass index (BMI), waist‐to‐hip ratio (WHR), body shape index (ABSI) and body adiposity index (BAI), similar to waist circumference (WC) and lower than waist‐to‐height ratio (WHtR). However, the difference between BRI and BMI, WC and WHtR predicting MetS was statistically non‐significant. Similar results were found with the summary receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC‐SROC). In addition, the non‐Chinese population had pooled AUCs greater than the Chinese population for all indices. Pooled ORs showed that BRI is associated with an increased MetS risk. In conclusion, BRI had good discriminatory power for MetS in adults of both sexes from diverse populations (AUC > 0.7; AUC‐SROC>0.7). However, WC and WHtR offer the best performance when screening for MetS, and non‐significant differences were found with BRI. In contrast, BRI was superior to BMI, WHR, ABSI and BAI in predicting MetS.
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This finding aligns with existing evidence and reinforces the potential of BRI as a robust predictor for identifying individuals at high risk of MetS.
“This finding not only aligns with existing evidence but also reinforces the potential of BRI as a robust predictor for identifying individuals at high risk of MetS [29, 30].”
From Machine learning with the body roundness index and associated indicators: a new approach to predicting metabolic syndrome (2025) · cites this paper as [29]
Several studies have shown that BRI demonstrates superior screening performance compared with traditional indices such as BMI, waist circumference, and waist-to-height ratio, particularly for metabolic diseases including metabolic syndrome.
“Several studies have shown that BRI demonstrates superior screening performance compared with traditional indices such as BMI, waist circumference, and waist-to-height ratio, particularly for metabolic diseases, including metabolic syndrome [12,13].”
From The discriminatory ability of the body roundness index and body mass index for metabolic diseases in Korean adults: a comparative study (2025) · cites this paper as [13]
BRI has been found to effectively predict metabolic syndrome in men and women from various subgroups.
“BRI has been found to effectively predict metabolic syndrome in men and women from various subgroups [11].”
From Effectiveness of body roundness index for the prediction of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis (2025) · cites this paper as [11]
Higher BRI values are related to greater visceral fat accumulation.
“BRI has a strong correlation with obesity, and higher BRI values are related to a greater accumulation of visceral fat [11].”
From Effectiveness of body roundness index for the prediction of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis (2025) · cites this paper as [11]
BRI has a strong correlation with obesity.
“BRI has a strong correlation with obesity, and higher BRI values are related to a greater accumulation of visceral fat [11].”
From Effectiveness of body roundness index for the prediction of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis (2025) · cites this paper as [11]
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“BRI has a strong correlation with obesity, and higher BRI values are related to a greater accumulation of visceral fat [11].”
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“Several studies have shown that BRI demonstrates superior screening performance compared with traditional indices such as BMI, waist circumference, and waist-to-height ratio, particularly for metabolic diseases, including metabolic syndrome [12,13].”
- Authors
- Rico‐Martín, S., Calderón‐García, J. F., Sánchez‐Rey, P., Franco‐Antonio, C., Martínez Alvarez, M., & Sánchez Muñoz‐Torrero, J. F.
- Affiliations
- Universidad de Extremadura (ES)
- Department of Nursing, Nursing and Occupational Therapy College University of Extremadura Cáceres Spain
- Department of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine University of Extremadura Badajoz Spain
- Department of Internal Medicine Hospital Universitario de Cáceres Cáceres Spain
- Corresponding author
- Rico‐Martín, Sergio
- Venue
- Obesity Reviews
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2020-04-08
- Volume
- 21
- Issue
- 7
- Pages
- e13023-e13023
- ISSN
- 1467-7881 (ISSN-L)
- 1467-789X
- OpenAlex
- W3014767564
- Cited by
- 355
- References
- 10
- Citations by year
- 2026: 93 · 2025: 137 · 2024: 57 · 2023: 28 · 2022: 22 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 4
- FWCI
- 2.16
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Obesity Reviews (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Body Composition Measurement Techniques
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Diabetes, Cardiovascular Risks, and Lipoproteins
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
- Keywords
- body roundness index, metabolic syndrome, anthropometric indices, visceral adipose tissue, fat mass, body mass index, waist-to-height ratio, waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, body shape index, body adiposity index, metabolic syndrome screening, diagnostic accuracy
- MeSH terms
- Humans, Body Mass Index, Metabolic Syndrome, Adiposity, Waist Circumference, Waist-Height Ratio
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