Experts Pinpoint 3 Signs You May be Obese Regardless of BMI
About 40% of US adults — more than 100 million Americans — are considered obese. It’s a growing public health crisis that makes patients vulnerable to heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, stroke, and certain cancers.
Now, a global commission of 56 medical experts is proposing a major overhaul of how obesity is defined and diagnosed, which means the days of relying solely on body mass index (BMI) to reveal if you’re overweight or obese may be numbered.
What is BMI?
BMI is a person’s weight in kilograms divided by the square of their height in meters. A BMI of 30 or higher is considered obese, while a BMI of 40 or above is considered severely obese. However, critics say BMI is too limited as a measure of obesity.
How should obesity be diagnosed?
The commission recommends various body size measurements to replace BMI or complement it. These include:
- One measurement of body size (waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, or waist-to-height ratio), as well as BMI
- Two measurements of body size regardless of BMI
- Direct body fat measurement with a bone density scan, regardless of BMI
- Assumption of excess body fat if BMI is over 40
"The commission’s reframing acknowledges the nuanced reality of obesity and allows for personalized care," said commission chair Dr. Francesco Rubino of King’s College London.
What are the two new obesity categories?
The commission advises two new categories of obesity: clinical and preclinical obesity.
- Clinical obesity is a chronic disease affecting organ function or daily routine. Patients may struggle to eat, bathe, or dress themselves because of excess body fat.
- Preclinical obesity is characterized by normal organ function but an increased risk of clinical obesity, Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, certain types of cancer, and mental illness.
What’s next?
The commission is embarking on a worldwide publicity campaign, hoping it leads to better obesity prevention and treatment strategies. The commission is urging health insurers to cover clinical obesity without the presence of another disease and to focus care for those with preclinical obesity on risk reduction.
Conclusion
The commission’s report is a major step forward in recognizing obesity as a disease and not merely a risk factor. It also helps clinicians identify individuals who are in need of treatment.
FAQs
- How would the new definition of obesity affect the number of Americans classified as obese?
- It’s unclear, as it’s being studied.
- How would the new definition affect healthcare insurance policies?
- The commission is urging insurers to cover clinical obesity without the presence of another disease and to focus care for those with preclinical obesity on risk reduction.
- What are the implications for individuals who are currently classified as overweight but not obese?
- The commission’s recommendations may lead to a more nuanced understanding of obesity and its effects on individuals, potentially resulting in more targeted treatment and prevention strategies.
