Will Redefining Obesity Help People Who Have It?

Original Article: https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/will-redefining-obesity-help-those-who-have-it-2025a10000we

A New Way to Diagnose Obesity

A global commission of 56 experts recently published a 42-page report suggesting that obesity should be diagnosed using more than just body mass index (BMI). They argue that BMI alone doesn’t consider important factors including age, gender, ethnicity, or body composition. Instead, they recommend measuring weight distribution through assessing waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, or body fat scans. The report also introduces the idea of “pre-clinical obesity”—a stage where excess weight poses health risks but hasn’t yet caused major health problems.

What Counts as Clinical Obesity?

The report provides 18 criteria for diagnosing obesity in adults and 13 for children. These criteria focus on how weight impacts a person’s health. However, it does not currently consider psychological effects such as self-esteem or mental well-being. The report also emphasizes that people with obesity should receive personalized, stigma-free medical care. 

Does This Really Help?

While the report acknowledges that obesity is a complex condition requiring personalized treatment, it may not significantly reduce weight bias in healthcare. It also risks limiting access to treatment if insurance companies use the new criteria to restrict coverage. The report pushes for obesity to be treated like other chronic diseases, but it may unintentionally make care harder to access rather than easier.