A new plan suggests redefining obesity, moving beyond BMI to include waist size and health issues for better diagnosis and treatment.
Seattle: A group of global experts is shaking things up with a new way to define obesity. They want to move away from just using BMI, which is often criticized, and look at other factors like waist size and health issues linked to extra weight.
They released their recommendations recently, suggesting that obesity should be diagnosed based on a combination of measurements. This includes waist circumference and any health problems that might come from being overweight.
Did you know that over a billion people worldwide are affected by obesity? In the U.S., around 40% of adults fall into this category, according to the CDC.
Dr. David Cummings, an expert from the University of Washington, mentioned that the goal is to pinpoint those who really need help. The report introduces two new categories: clinical obesity and pre-clinical obesity.
People with clinical obesity meet the BMI criteria and show signs of health issues like heart disease or high blood pressure. They would be eligible for treatments like diet plans and medications.
On the flip side, those with pre-clinical obesity are at risk but don’t have any ongoing health problems yet.
Traditionally, BMI has been seen as a flawed measure. It can mislabel people, especially athletes who might have a high BMI due to muscle mass rather than fat. The new criteria could change the classification for about 20% of people.
While the new definitions have support from over 75 medical organizations, it’s unclear how quickly they’ll be put into practice. There are costs and workforce issues to consider, and insurance companies are still figuring out how to adapt.
Dr. Katherine Saunders pointed out that measuring waist size isn’t as straightforward as it seems. Different protocols exist, and many doctors aren’t trained properly. Plus, standard tape measures might not fit everyone.
To distinguish between clinical and pre-clinical obesity, a thorough health assessment would be necessary, which could complicate things.
Nutrition expert Kate Bauer expressed concerns that the public might find the new definitions confusing. She believes people prefer simple messages, and this change might not make a significant impact.
Dr. Robert Kushner, another expert, acknowledged that redefining obesity is a lengthy process. He sees this as just the beginning of a much-needed conversation.
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