Experts Propose New Way to Diagnose Obesity, Moving Beyond Outdated Body Mass Index

A panel of 56 global experts has made a groundbreaking suggestion to redefine how obesity is diagnosed, moving beyond the widely used but flawed body mass index (BMI) as the sole measure. Published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, this landmark report has garnered backing from 75 medical organizations and aims to provide a more precise, personalized approach to identify and treat obesity.

According to Professor Francesco Rubino of King's College London, who chaired the commission, "The question of whether obesity is a disease is flawed as it presumes an all-or-nothing scenario. The reality shows us that there is a nuanced world in between, where some individuals with obesity remain healthy long-term, while others experience severe illness due to excess body fat."

The commission proposes two distinct categories: clinical obesity, where excess fat directly causes health issues, and pre-clinical obesity, where individuals are at higher risk but not yet displaying any current illnesses.

Experts claim that BMI alone is insufficient for diagnosing obesity as it only accounts for weight in relation to height and fails to consider individual factors such as fat distribution or overall health conditions. For instance, someone with excess fat around organs (a major risk factor for diseases like diabetes and heart failure) might still have a "normal" BMI. Conversely, individuals with high BMI levels but healthy organ function may be misdiagnosed.

As noted by Commissioner Professor Robert Eckel from the University of Colorado, relying solely on BMI is problematic due to its inability to differentiate between health risks associated with fat distribution in various parts of the body, such as around the organs or beneath the skin.