Obesity is typically assessed by measuring someone's body mass index, but now researchers are calling for a more nuanced approach that could help with treatment

Body Mass Index, or BMI, has long been criticized as an unreliable method for measuring obesity — and now a group of experts is sharing new recommendations for how to use it.

By coincidence (they started before GLP -1 drugs were approved for slimming), a group of 56 doctors have just answered that question. This group, called the Lancet Commission, and organised by the journal of that name, have developed a better way of diagnosing obesity—one that distinguishes when it has become pathological.

A global group of experts has suggested a new approach to diagnosing and treating obesity that does not rely solely on the much-contested body mass index (BMI).

An international commission made the case for focusing on body fat quantity and the illnesses people experience.

Our reframing acknowledges the nuanced reality of obesity and allows for personalized care,” said Dr. Francesco Rubino of King’s College London.

A new report says only using BMI to determine if a patient has obesity leads to under-diagnosing people who are ill and over-diagnosing people who don't currently deal with the negative health consequences of obesity.

A panel of health experts looking at obesity announced that the definition of the condition should be split into two categories and diagnosed differently.

India has experienced a doubling of obesity prevalence over the past two decades, with abdominal obesity becoming particularly prevalent.

When it comes to weight loss drugs, Ozempic has become a phenomenon. With nearly $14 billion in sales in 2023, it shows no signs of slowing down, much to the delight of its Danish manufacturer, Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE: NVO).