here’s a summary of the article, broken down into key points:
* New Obesity Definition: A new definition of obesity, released by the Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology Commission, expands beyond just Body Mass Index (BMI) to include measurements of body fat distribution (like waist circumference).
* Considerably Higher Prevalence: Using this new definition, obesity prevalence in a study of over 300,000 Americans jumped from roughly 40% to around 70%.
* Anthropometric-Only Obesity: A key finding is the identification of a group with “anthropometric-only obesity” - people with a normal BMI but with unhealthy fat distribution. This group makes up a large portion of the increase in obesity rates.
* Increased Health Risks: Those classified as obese under the new definition, especially those with anthropometric-only obesity, showed a higher risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and mortality compared to those not considered obese.
* Age Impact: The increase in obesity prevalence was most pronounced in older adults, with nearly 80% of those over 70 being classified as obese under the new criteria.
* Clinical vs. Preclinical obesity: The new definition also differentiates between preclinical (excess fat) and clinical (excess fat with health problems) obesity. About half of those meeting the new criteria had clinical obesity.
* Need for New Approaches: Researchers believe this new understanding necessitates a re-evaluation of treatment strategies and prioritization of approaches to address excess fat, even in individuals with normal BMIs.
* Endorsement: The new guidelines have been endorsed by at least 76 organizations, including the American Heart Association and The Obesity Society.
In essence, the article highlights that relying solely on BMI may underestimate the true extent of obesity and its associated health risks, and that focusing on body fat distribution is crucial for a more accurate assessment.
