Lipid Accumulation Product (LAP)
Estimate visceral fat and cardiometabolic risk.
Last updated on: August 29, 2025
Input Patient Data
What is the Lipid Accumulation Product (LAP)?
The Lipid Accumulation Product (LAP) is a validated index combining waist circumference and fasting triglycerides to estimate lipid overaccumulation in visceral fat stores.
Unlike BMI, which only reflects body weight relative to height, LAP is more specific for identifying unhealthy fat distribution strongly associated with metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance.
Why use LAP?
LAP is an inexpensive and practical clinical tool that improves the identification of individuals at risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Because it integrates abdominal obesity and lipid metabolism, it offers better predictive value than waist circumference or BMI alone.
Interpretation
Higher LAP values indicate a greater accumulation of visceral fat and higher cardiometabolic risk. Although universal cut-off values are not fixed, higher LAP has consistently been linked with metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, and adverse cardiovascular outcomes.
Researchers recommend interpreting LAP in context with age, gender, and ethnicity, as population-specific thresholds may improve clinical decision-making.
This page has been medically reviewed by Dr. Khoulah Attia – PharmD, Immunology Specialist.