Feline Body Mass Index

CLINICAL TOOLS
developed by
WALTHAM – The world’s leading authority on pet care and nutrition
The Feline Body Mass Index
™
– a simple measure of body fat content in cats
Figure 1 Relationship between percentage body fat as predicted by the Feline
Body Mass Index™ and measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry
(R2=85%, p<0.0001).
Figure 2a The length of the lower leg (LIM) from the middle of the platella.
Figure 2b Measurement of rib cage circumference.
Rib cage circumference (cm)
The Feline Body Mass Index™ (FBMI™), as it has become
known, now offers researchers and clinicians alike an
invaluable tool with which to make simple yet reliable
assessments of body fat content in cats. Its application in
clinical studies will help define the relationship between
body fat content and risk of disease. This, in turn, will allow
veterinarians to better identify cats at risk of
obesity-related conditions, as well as providing a tool with
which to monitor the effects of dietary and exercise
programmes on body fat content.
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The equation used rib cage circumference and the lower
hindlimb measurement (in cm)
rib
cage
______
– LIM
(
Percentage body fat = _____________
0.7062 )
0.9156
– LIM
Over weight
Normal weight
LIM (cm)
Under weight
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Figure 3 Feline Body Mass Index™ (FBMI™)
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