# What is my visceral fat level?

Estimates visceral fat function with the visceral adiposity index (VAI) from waist, BMI, triglycerides and HDL cholesterol, by sex, and compares it with the age-specific cut-offs for visceral adipose dysfunction.

- Page: https://www.acalculator.org/health/visceral-fat-calculator
- JSON spec: https://www.acalculator.org/health/visceral-fat-calculator.json
- Version: e815587cb26a

## Default answer

Example with the default inputs (Sex Male, Age 45, Waist 36 in, Height 5 ft 9 in, Weight 180 lb, Lab units mg/dL, Triglycerides (mg/dL) 150, HDL cholesterol (mg/dL) 50): Your visceral adiposity index is 1.7: Absent visceral adipose dysfunction for your age.

## Inputs

| Key | Label | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| sex | Sex | Your sex, which picks the formula. |
| age | Age | Your age in years, which sets the cut-offs. |
| waist | Waist | Waist circumference, measured midway between the lowest rib and the top of the hip bone. |
| height | Height | Your height without shoes. |
| weight | Weight | Your body weight. |
| unit | Lab units | The unit of your lipid results: mg/dL (United States) or mmol/L. |
| tg | Triglycerides (mg/dL) | Fasting triglycerides in mg/dL. |
| hdl | HDL cholesterol (mg/dL) | HDL cholesterol in mg/dL. |
| tgMmol | Triglycerides (mmol/L) | Fasting triglycerides in mmol/L. |
| hdlMmol | HDL cholesterol (mmol/L) | HDL cholesterol in mmol/L. |

## Outputs

| Key | Label | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| vai | Visceral adiposity index (VAI) | Waist and BMI term × triglyceride term × HDL term; 1 in healthy people of normal weight. |
| level | Visceral adipose dysfunction | Absent, mild, moderate or severe, from the age-specific cut-offs. |
| limit | Cut-off for your age | The highest VAI with no dysfunction for your age group. |
| bmi | BMI | Weight (kg) ÷ height (m)². |

## Method

Men: VAI = WC ÷ (39.68 + 1.88 × BMI) × TG ÷ 1.03 × 1.31 ÷ HDL; women: VAI = WC ÷ (36.58 + 1.89 × BMI) × TG ÷ 0.81 × 1.52 ÷ HDL (WC in cm, TG and HDL in mmol/L).

## Assumptions

- Adults; the index was built in Caucasian adults in primary care and may fit other groups less well.
- Lab values from mg/dL to mmol/L: triglycerides × 0.01129, HDL cholesterol × 0.02586 (NHANES).
- The VAI is an indirect marker of visceral fat function, not a scan of visceral fat.

## Worked examples

1. sex = male, age = 45, waist = 0.95, height = 1.75, weight = 80, unit = mmol, tgMmol = 1.03, hdlMmol = 1.31 gives vai = 1.069938, level = Absent, limit = 1.92. Source: Amato MC and others, Visceral Adiposity Index: a reliable indicator of visceral fat function associated with cardiometabolic risk, Diabetes Care 2010;33:920 (men: WC ÷ (39.68 + 1.88 × BMI) × TG ÷ 1.03 × 1.31 ÷ HDL; women: WC ÷ (36.58 + 1.89 × BMI) × TG ÷ 0.81 × 1.52 ÷ HDL), https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2845052/; Amato MC, Giordano C, Visceral adiposity index: an indicator of adipose tissue dysfunction, Int J Endocrinol 2014, Table 1 (age-specific cut-offs), https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4009335/.
2. sex = female, age = 35, waist = 0.88, height = 1.63, weight = 70, unit = mmol, tgMmol = 1.7, hdlMmol = 1.1 gives vai = 2.954677, level = Moderate. Source: Amato MC and others, Visceral Adiposity Index: a reliable indicator of visceral fat function associated with cardiometabolic risk, Diabetes Care 2010;33:920 (men: WC ÷ (39.68 + 1.88 × BMI) × TG ÷ 1.03 × 1.31 ÷ HDL; women: WC ÷ (36.58 + 1.89 × BMI) × TG ÷ 0.81 × 1.52 ÷ HDL), https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2845052/; Amato MC, Giordano C, Visceral adiposity index: an indicator of adipose tissue dysfunction, Int J Endocrinol 2014, Table 1 (age-specific cut-offs), https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4009335/.
3. sex = male, age = 60, waist = 1.016, height = 1.778, weight = 99.790321, unit = mgdl, tg = 250, hdl = 35 gives vai = 4.069313, level = Severe. Source: Amato MC and others, Visceral Adiposity Index: a reliable indicator of visceral fat function associated with cardiometabolic risk, Diabetes Care 2010;33:920 (men: WC ÷ (39.68 + 1.88 × BMI) × TG ÷ 1.03 × 1.31 ÷ HDL; women: WC ÷ (36.58 + 1.89 × BMI) × TG ÷ 0.81 × 1.52 ÷ HDL), https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2845052/; Amato MC, Giordano C, Visceral adiposity index: an indicator of adipose tissue dysfunction, Int J Endocrinol 2014, Table 1 (age-specific cut-offs), https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4009335/.

## FAQ

### What is visceral fat?

Visceral fat is the fat stored deep in the belly, around the liver, gut and other organs. More of it is linked with insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and heart disease, even in people whose weight looks normal.

### What is the visceral adiposity index?

The visceral adiposity index (VAI) is a sex-specific formula from 2010 that combines waist, BMI, triglycerides and HDL cholesterol. It is set so that a healthy person of normal weight with normal fat distribution and normal lipids scores about 1. Higher values point to more visceral fat dysfunction.

### How do I calculate my VAI?

For men, VAI = waist (cm) ÷ (39.68 + 1.88 × BMI) × triglycerides ÷ 1.03 × 1.31 ÷ HDL. For women, VAI = waist ÷ (36.58 + 1.89 × BMI) × triglycerides ÷ 0.81 × 1.52 ÷ HDL. Triglycerides and HDL are in mmol/L.

### What is a normal VAI?

The cut-off for no dysfunction depends on age: 2.52 under 30, 2.23 from 30 to under 42, 1.92 from 42 to under 52, 1.93 from 52 to under 66, and 2.00 from 66. Values above it are graded mild, moderate or severe.

### Can a calculator measure visceral fat?

No. Only a scan such as MRI, CT or DXA measures visceral fat directly. The VAI is an indirect marker built from measurements you can get at a check-up, so it gives an estimate of risk, not an amount of fat.

### How can I reduce visceral fat?

Regular physical activity, weight loss if you carry extra weight, less alcohol and enough sleep all help. Your doctor can check your lipids and blood sugar over time.

## Sources

- Amato MC, Giordano C, Galia M, and others. Visceral Adiposity Index: a reliable indicator of visceral fat function associated with cardiometabolic risk. Diabetes Care. 2010;33(4):920-922, retrieved 2026-10-05. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2845052/
- Amato MC, Giordano C. Visceral adiposity index: an indicator of adipose tissue dysfunction. International Journal of Endocrinology. 2014;2014:730827, Table 1, retrieved 2026-10-05. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4009335/
- Amato MC, Giordano C, Pitrone M, Galluzzo A. Cut-off points of the visceral adiposity index (VAI) identifying a visceral adipose dysfunction associated with cardiometabolic risk in a Caucasian Sicilian population. Lipids in Health and Disease. 2011;10:183, retrieved 2026-10-05. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3224548/
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. NHANES 2017–March 2020 Cholesterol, LDL and Triglycerides documentation: triglycerides mg/dL × 0.01129 = mmol/L; cholesterol mg/dL × 0.02586 = mmol/L, retrieved 2026-10-05. https://wwwn.cdc.gov/Nchs/Data/Nhanes/Public/2017/DataFiles/P_TRIGLY.htm