The clinical definition for "obesity" is not one size fits all. Relying on body mass index (BMI) alone can lead to under-diagnosis of people who are ill and, conversely, over-diagnosis of people who currently do not have negative health consequences of obesity.
A new set of global clinical guidelines released today (Jan. 14) aims to address that.
With one billion people in the world now estimated to be living with obesity, The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology Commission - which is endorsed by 75 medical organizations around the world - has set out a new way to diagnose obesity to use objective measures of illness based on an individual's risk factors. This is a significant shift from the current standard of care, which primarily relies on BMI to diagnose obesity.
The commission also has introduced two novel diagnostic categories of obesity: clinical obesity and pre-clinical obesity, which delineate if and how an individual's excess body fat affects their organ health and daily functioning.
Northwestern Medicine obesity expert Dr. Robert Kushner is a member of the commission that devised the new definition and diagnostic criteria of clinical obesity.
"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," said Kushner, a professor of medicine (endocrinology and medical education) at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.
