A group of 58 global clinicians has proposed a new way of identifying obesity that does not rely on body mass index (BMI) alone. They believe waist circumference and direct fat measurement should also be figured in, as well as other signs and symptoms of health, according to an online article in Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology. Current BMI-based measures of obesity can underestimate or overestimate body fat and health status. The clinician group recommends that BMI should be “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.” Further, by distinguishing “preclinical” and “clinical” obesity with added measures and observations, patients may be able to receive timely, evidence-based treatment to prevent progression to further disease and organ damage. The commission listed 18 diagnostic criteria for clinical obesity.
Tough to change: This isn’t the first time clinicians have suggested that BMI isn’t the ideal index to determine the relationship between weight and disease risk. The debate has been going on for decades. In fact, the first use of BMI as we know it dates back to 1972, and most modern EHRs include the measure in patient data fields today.
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