Objective: To assess the value of body adiposity index (BAI) as a marker of obesity and predictorof cardiovascular disease (CVD).Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study in 527 volunteers from the education and auto-motive sector in Bogotá, Colombia. BAI was calculated using the Bergman et al. equation([hip circumference in cm)/[height in m2]1,5−18]). Anthropometric, clinical and laboratorydata were collected, cholesterol/HDL-C, LDL-C/HDL-C; triglycerides/HDL-C and lipid-metabolicindex (LMI) ratios were calculated. Prevalence rates and means, according to tertiles (T), andmultivariate analysis between the BAI and anthropometric, clinical, and laboratory markerswere estimated.Results: Obesity prevalence was 33.9% (BAI > 27.5%). Subjects with lower BAI (T-1) had lowercholesterol, triglycerides/HDL-C, and cholesterol/HDL-C levels and better LMI; P < .001. Themultivariate model showed in T-3 subjects an OR 3.33 (95% CI 2.16 to 5.13) for central obesityand an OR 3.39 (95% CI 2.34 to 4.90) for increased visceral fat. As regards lipid and carbohydratemetabolism, BAI was able to predict the risk OR 7.95 (95% CI 4.88 to 12.94), OR 1.60 (95% CI1.03 to 2.41), OR 1.69 (95% CI 1.06 to 2.70) and OR 9.27 (95% CI 2.01 to 21.80), shows a signifi-cant association between cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL cholesterol and glucose respectively,P < 0.001.Conclusion: A high prevalence of obesity by BAI was observed, and statistically positive asso-ciations with cardiovascular risk factors were shown.