Summary
A Lancet report urges a global revamp of obesity diagnosis, citing over-reliance on BMI as misleading and harmful.
Experts argue BMI often fails to reflect true health by overlooking fat distribution and organ function.
They propose redefining obesity into two categories: “clinical obesity” (linked to health impairments) and “pre-clinical obesity” (no current illness but heightened future risk).
The shift aims for more personalized care and early intervention.
Over 75 medical groups endorse the report’s recommendations.
Pre-clinical obesity would be defined as obesity with normal organ function. People living with pre-clinical obesity therefore do not have ongoing illness
The cynic in me thinks this is just going to be used to deny people access to weight loss drugs.
As is, it is an auto calculation based on recorded height and weight.
No, it isn’t. Intrinsic to the determination is the Doctor’s evaluation of your physical condition. Many athletes and body builders rate as obese because muscle is denser than fat. A doctor would not label them obese even if the BMI is calculated as such.
Obesity as a medical diagnosis is a decisional piece made by a provider, yes. Morbid obesity, same. Each has an ICD number.
The BMI, however, is auto calculated within the most popular medical chart system by virtue of a height and weight being entered for the patient. That is all. The weight data also turns red and gets an (!) added to it as well, as an auto process in the system.
