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Vital Health Blog

Evidence-based articles on BMI, body composition, nutrition, and movement so you can approach your health goals with clarity and confidence.

Showing 2 articles tagged with “metabolic health”.

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February 22, 2025 7 minute read

Waist-to-Height Ratio: Why It Might Be Better Than BMI

Learn how waist-to-height ratio compares to BMI for health assessment. Simple measurement that better predicts metabolic risk and cardiovascular health.

Why this article matters

  • Waist-to-height ratio better predicts metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular risk than BMI alone.
  • The measurement is simple: waist circumference divided by height, with a target ratio below 0.5.
  • This metric is particularly valuable for people with high muscle mass or those in borderline BMI categories.

Latest deep dives

January 12, 2025 7 minute read

BMI vs. Body Fat Percentage: Which Metric Should You Trust?

Learn the differences between BMI and body fat percentage, how each is calculated, and when it makes sense to rely on one metric over the other.

Key takeaways
  • BMI correlates with health risk at the population level but can misclassify athletes or people with higher muscle mass.
  • Body fat percentage distinguishes fat from lean mass, yet it requires specialized tools or formulas to estimate accurately.
  • Track both BMI trends and waist measurements to capture metabolic risk while accounting for body composition changes.