IMCforidade

IMCforidade is a proposed anthropometric index that seeks to integrate body mass index (BMI) with age to better reflect how aging influences body composition and disease risk. The term, used mainly in Portuguese-language research contexts, is not a widely standardized metric and does not replace established BMI or BMI-for-age charts.

IMCforidade is motivated by the observation that BMI alone can misclassify risk across different ages because fat and lean mass distribution change with age. IMCforidade aims to adjust BMI by incorporating age to yield a single composite score indicating relative nutritional risk across the lifespan.

There is no universal formula. In practice, researchers define an age-adjustment factor or coefficient and apply it to BMI, or calibrate the score against health outcomes in reference populations. The resulting IMCforidade value is interpreted alongside age-specific thresholds, allowing longitudinal tracking.

Applications include use in epidemiological studies, clinical nutrition, and aging research to compare individuals of different ages or to monitor changes over time. Limitations include lack of standardization, potential confusion with existing BMI-for-age concepts, and the need for population-specific calibration.

History and status: The term has appeared in niche publications since the early 2020s and remains exploratory rather than established in guidelines. Further validation and consensus would be required for routine clinical use.

See also: Body mass index, BMI-for-age, age-adjusted BMI, anthropometry.