Body Adiposity Index (BAI)
The Body Adiposity Index (BAI) is a simple way to estimate how much of your body is made up of fat using only your height and the size of your hips.
Plain English
Patient-Friendly Explanation
The Body Adiposity Index (BAI) is a simple way to estimate how much of your body is made up of fat using only your height and the size of your hips. Unlike BMI, it does not require a weighing scale, so it can be useful when weight is hard to measure. It gives your doctor another number to help judge whether you are carrying too much body fat.
Medical
Clinical Definition
The Body Adiposity Index is an anthropometric estimate of percentage body adiposity calculated from hip circumference and height using the formula BAI = (hip circumference in cm divided by height in metres raised to the power of 1.5) minus 18. It was developed as an alternative to BMI that avoids reliance on body weight, which can be confounded by muscle mass. BAI correlates with body fat percentage measured by DEXA, though accuracy varies across ethnic groups and at extremes of body fat.
Key Insight
Why It Matters
BAI can add useful information to BMI and waist measurement when Dr Joseph Wang and our team assess body composition, especially for patients for whom BMI is misleading. Understanding how fat is distributed helps guide a more personalised weight management plan.
Sources
Reviewed against standard medical references.
Medically reviewed by
Family Physician & Registered Acupuncturist, Accord Medical Clinic. MBBS (NUS), Graduate Diploma in Family Medicine (NUS), Graduate Diploma in Acupuncture (Singapore College of TCM).
Last reviewed: August 2026
This page is general health education, not medical advice. Whether any treatment is appropriate for you is a decision made in consultation after assessment.