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. 2025 May 20;20(5):e0322928.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0322928. eCollection 2025.

The association between body roundness index and handgrip strength and muscle quality index: A cross-sectional study

Zhihao Wei  1 , Tengfei Yu  2 , Xufeng Jin  1 , Guanyi Ma  1 , Xianfeng Meng  1
Affiliations

The association between body roundness index and handgrip strength and muscle quality index: A cross-sectional study

Zhihao Wei et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Background: Sarcopenic obesity is characterized by a combination of obesity and sarcopenia. Body round index (BRI) is a novel anthropometric index that can more accurately assess body and visceral fat levels than body mass index or waist circumference. This study used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to explore the relationship between BRI and handgrip strength (HGS) and muscle quality index (MQI) in American adults aged 20 and over.

Methods: This study used cross-sectional data from the 2011-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) with complete data on BRI, HGS, and MQI. We used multivariate linear regression models and smooth curve fitting methods to explore the relationship between BRI and HGS and MQI. In addition, subgroup analyses and interaction tests were performed to further analyze the potential association between these variables.

Results: A total of 5466 participants were finally included in this study, of whom 2807 were males and 2659 were females. The results showed that BRI was positively correlated with HGS and negatively correlated with MQI. In the fully adjusted model, the negative correlation between BRI and MQI was (β= -0.08, 95% CI = -0.08, -0.07), while the positive correlation with HGS was (β= 0.3 8, 95% CI = 0.29, 0.46), indicating that for every unit increase in BRI, MQI decreases by 0.08 units and HGS increases by 0.38 units (P < 0.0001). In addition, the relationship between BRI and HGS is an L-shaped curve. An inflection point is determined when BRI reaches 3.42. Before this threshold, for every unit increase in BRI, HGS increases significantly (β = 2.19, 95% CI = 1.66, 2.72).

Conclusion: The results showed that BRI was positively correlated with HGS and negatively correlated with MQI, meaning that higher BRI was associated with higher HGS and lower MQI. This highlights the importance of body fat distribution in muscle health and suggests that BRI can be used as an effective anthropometric indicator to predict grip strength and muscle mass.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Flow chart of participants selection.
NHANES, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. BRI body round index, HGS handgrip strength, MQI muscle quality index.
Fig 2
Fig 2. The association between body roundness index and HGS.
The solid red line represents the smooth curve fit between variables and the blue bands represent the 95% confidence interval from the fit. HGS handgrip strength, BRI body round index.
Fig 3
Fig 3. The association between body roundness index and MQI.
The solid red line represents the smooth curve fit between variables and the blue bands represent the 95% confidence interval from the fit. MQI muscle quality index, BRI body round index.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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