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Visceral adiposity index calculator

Estimate visceral fat dysfunction from waist, BMI, triglycerides and HDL cholesterol with the visceral adiposity index, and compute the lipid accumulation product.

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Results

Visceral adiposity index (VAI)

1.98

Above the age-specific cut-off: suggests visceral adipose dysfunction
Cut-off for your age (Amato 2011)
1.92
Lipid accumulation product (LAP)
53.4
Triglycerides in mmol/L
1.69 mmol/L
HDL in mmol/L
1.16 mmol/L

This calculator is for general information and education. It is not medical advice and does not replace the judgment of a doctor, nurse or pharmacist who knows the full clinical picture.

What the VAI estimates

Visceral fat, stored around the organs inside the abdomen, behaves differently from fat under the skin: it releases free fatty acids and inflammatory signals that drive insulin resistance and raise triglycerides. The visceral adiposity index (VAI), published by Marco Amato in 2010, combines a body measurement and two blood lipids to estimate how “dysfunctional” this visceral fat is.

The formulas

With waist in cm and triglycerides (TG) and HDL cholesterol in mmol/L:

  • Men: VAI = waist ÷ (39.68 + 1.88 × BMI) × (TG ÷ 1.03) × (1.31 ÷ HDL)
  • Women: VAI = waist ÷ (36.58 + 1.89 × BMI) × (TG ÷ 0.81) × (1.52 ÷ HDL)

The lipid accumulation product (LAP) is simpler: (waist − 65) × TG for men and (waist − 58) × TG for women. The calculator converts mg/dL to mmol/L (divide TG by 88.57 and HDL by 38.67).

Example

A 45-year-old man with a 38 in (96.5 cm) waist, a BMI of 27, triglycerides of 150 mg/dL and HDL of 45 mg/dL has a VAI of 1.98 and a LAP of 53.4.

Age-specific cut-offs

Amato’s group proposed these cut-offs for visceral adipose dysfunction in a white Sicilian population:

Age VAI cut-off
under 30 2.52
30 to 41 2.23
42 to 51 1.92
52 to 65 1.93
66 and over 2.00

In the example, 1.98 is just above the cut-off of 1.92 for the man’s age group.

What the VAI is linked to

Studies have associated a high VAI with insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease, polycystic ovary syndrome and cardiovascular events. The LAP shows similar associations and has been proposed as a marker of metabolic syndrome.

Limits

  • Triglycerides must be measured fasting.
  • The cut-offs were derived in one population and may not transfer to others.
  • VAI is an indirect estimate; imaging (CT or MRI) is the reference for measuring visceral fat.

Losing a few centimeters of waist and lowering triglycerides through diet and exercise reduces both indices.

Frequently asked questions

What is a normal visceral adiposity index?

In healthy people the VAI averages about 1. The cut-offs for visceral adipose dysfunction range from 1.92 to 2.52 depending on age.

Do I need to fast before the blood test?

Yes, triglycerides should be measured after fasting for 9 to 12 hours, because a recent meal raises them and inflates the VAI.

How do I convert triglycerides to mmol/L?

Divide mg/dL by 88.6. For HDL cholesterol, divide mg/dL by 38.67. The calculator does this for you.

What is the lipid accumulation product?

LAP multiplies the waist above a minimum (65 cm in men, 58 cm in women) by fasting triglycerides in mmol/L. It is another simple marker of abdominal fat and insulin resistance.

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Results are estimates provided for information purposes. They do not replace professional advice.

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