New definition of obesity does not rely only on BMI: Know what it is

With Ozempic and other weight loss drugs in use, researchers have released the revised definition of obesity. The revised definition is published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology and stresses on adiposity and its effect on the body instead of just body mass index or BMI.
This new definition is relevant as over 1 billion individuals worldwide live with obesity and are responsible for 5 million deaths every year.

BMI based measurement provides inadequate information

“Current BMI-based measures of obesity can both underestimate and overestimate adiposity and provide inadequate information about health at the individual level, which undermines medically-sound approaches to health care and policy,” the researchers have said.
“We define preclinical obesity as a state of excess adiposity with preserved function of other tissues and organs and a varying, but generally increased, risk of developing clinical obesity and several other non-communicable diseases (eg, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, certain types of cancer, and mental disorders),” the report says.

“We recommend that BMI should be used only as a surrogate measure of health risk at a population level, for epidemiological studies, or for screening purposes, rather than as an individual measure of health. Excess adiposity should be confirmed by either direct measurement of body fat, where available, or at least one anthropometric criterion (eg, waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, or waist-to-height ratio) in addition to BMI, using validated methods and cutoff points appropriate to age, gender, and ethnicity,” the researchers have said.

What is the revised definition of obesity?

The researchers have defined obesity as “a condition of illness that, akin to the notion of chronic disease in other medical specialties, directly results from the effect of excess adiposity on the function of organs and tissues.”

Obesity is associated with several health conditions

Obesity increases the likelihood of developing conditions such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke. Excess body weight places additional strain on joints, leading to osteoarthritis and reduced mobility. It is also linked to respiratory issues like sleep apnea and an increased risk of certain cancers, including breast, colon, and kidney cancer.
Metabolically, it disrupts hormonal balances, leading to insulin resistance, inflammation, and metabolic syndrome—a cluster of conditions that significantly elevate cardiovascular risks. It can also impair liver function, leading to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
Mentally, obesity is often associated with depression, anxiety, and mental health issues.