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Newcriteria for obesityare putting more Americans into that category.
Researchers at Mass General Brigham have proposed a major update to how obesity is defined, which would classify nearly 70% of U.S.adults as obese, according to a new study published in JAMA Network Open.
The new benchmark adds waist and body fat measurements to BMI, revealing body fat locations instead of just overallbody weight.
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With these new criteria, the estimated obesity rate in the U.S.increases from 42.9% to almost 70%, after examining 300,000 people.
This captures an array of individuals who may have previously been considered healthy, but actually face a higher risk of conditions likeheart diseaseand diabetes.
A new obesity definition considers nearly 70% of U.S.adults to be obese.(iStock)
The increase was highest amongolder adults, as nearly 80% of participants over 70 years old met the obesity mark, the researchers noted.
The study highlights the limitations of a BMI-based approach, which does not consider how fat stored throughout the body can predict overall health.
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Co-first author Lindsay Fourman, M.D., an endocrinologist in the endocrinology division of the Mass General Brigham Department of Medicine, reacted to these findings in a statement.
“We already thought we had an obesity epidemic, but this is astounding,” she said.“With potentially 70% of the adult population now considered to have excess fat, we need to better understand whattreatment approachesto prioritize.”
A BMI-based approach may miss those at risk of underlying conditions, the study suggests.(iStock)
Abdominal fat accumulation, known as visceral fat, has “long been recognized as metabolically harmful,” according to Philip Rabito, M.D., a specialist in endocrinology,weight lossand wellness in New York City.
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Redefining obesity to include patients with high-risk fat distribution could help “direct greater clinical attention and resources” to this “vulnerable” group, Rabito suggested.
“In addition, more of these patients may become eligible forGLP‑1–based therapiesthan under prior definitions, with the potential to meaningfully reduce their future cardiovascular risk,” he added.
The new obesity definition may help “direct greater clinical attention and resources,” one doctor noted.(iStock)
Dr.Mary Claire Haver, board-certified OBGYN and founder of The ‘Pause Life, also said she was not surprised by the study findings.
“I have been watching this trend unfold in my clinic for years,�“What concerns me most is that headlines like this often rely almost exclusively on weight-based measures such as BMI, which are blunt tools and miss what actually drives long-termhealth risk.”
insulin resistance, cardiovascular disease, fatty liver disease and inflammatory risk.Fat that is visible on the surface, called subcutaneous fat, does not carry the same metabolic risk when paired with “adequate muscle mass.”
nutrition recommendationsthan patients with significant visceral adiposity.”
Focusing only on weight can obscure who is “truly at risk,” Haver warned, and contributes to stigma while distracting from the “real issue” of metabolic health.
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“Tools that assess body composition, waist circumference and markers ofinsulin resistancegive us a far more accurate picture than the scale ever could,” she said.
The doctor projected that obesity population numbers will likely improve with the expansion of GLP-1 medications.
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“But if we do not shift the conversation away from weight alone and toward body composition and fat distribution, we will continue to misclassify risk and miss opportunities for more personalized, effective care,” she added.
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