Official announcements or publications by the World Health Organization

Global Commission Proposes New Obesity Diagnosis Framework, Introducing Clinical and Pre-Clinical Categories

Jan 15, 2025, 05:33 AM

A global commission, involving more than 50 experts and supported by 76 medical organizations, has proposed a new framework for diagnosing obesity, moving away from the traditional reliance on body mass index (BMI). The commission, published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, suggests that obesity should be diagnosed using broader criteria, including measurements like waist circumference, to avoid misdiagnosis. The new approach categorizes obesity into 'clinical obesity,' defined as a chronic illness with excess body fat causing organ damage and life-altering complications, and 'pre-clinical obesity,' where individuals have excess body fat but no ongoing illness. This redefinition aims to provide a more accurate diagnosis and better allocate healthcare resources, potentially affecting the prescription of weight-loss drugs and insurance coverage for obesity treatment.