Calling people medically “deficient” for being obese – this definition should be broken into two parts, Reports from global experts explain.

The term “clinical obesity” applies to patients who have a health condition due to their weight, while “preclinical obesity” applies to patients who are obese but healthy despite being at risk for the disease.

This is better for patients than relying solely on body mass index (BMI), a measure of whether a patient’s weight is healthy relative to their height, to determine obesity.

It is estimated that more than a billion people The whole world suffers from obesity Prescription weight loss pills are in high demand.

The report was published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology and was supported by more than 50 medical experts around the world.

Professor Francesco Rubino of King’s College London, chair of the expert group, said: “Some people with obesity maintain normal organ function and overall health over the long term, while others display signs and symptoms of severe disease in the here and now. “

“Obesity is a spectrum,” he added.

The current broad definition means too many people are diagnosed with obesity but do not receive the most appropriate care, the report said.

Natalie, from Crewe, goes to the gym four times a week and eats healthily but is still overweight.

“I think I’m on the bigger side but I’m healthy,” she told BBC 5 Live in a telephone interview with Nicky Campbell.

“If you look at my body mass index I’m obese, but if I talk to my doctors they say I’m healthy and there’s nothing wrong with me.

“I’m doing everything I can to stay healthy and have a long and healthy life,” she said.

Richard, from Falmouth, said there was a lot of confusion about BMI.

“When they tested me, I was at borderline obesity, but my body fat was only 4.9 percent – the problem was I had a lot of muscle,” he said.

According to Mike, you can’t be fat and healthy at the same time – he says it’s all about diet.

“All these slimming moves make me laugh, if you want to lose weight just stop eating – it’s easy.”

Currently, in many countries, obesity is defined as BMI over 30 – A measurement method for estimating body fat based on height and weight.

It is calculated by dividing an adult’s weight in kilograms by his or her height in meters squared.

For example, if they weigh 70 kilograms (about 11 stone) and are 1.70 m (about 5 feet 7 inches) high:

• Height (meters) squared: 1.70 x 1.70 = 2.89
• Divide their weight in kilograms by this: 70 ÷ 2.89 = 24.22
• Display the result to one decimal place: 24.2

Find out what your body mass index (BMI) means on the NHS website

But BMI also has its limitations.

It measures whether a person has excess weight, but not excess fat.

Therefore, muscular people, such as athletes, tend to have a higher body mass index but not much fat.

BMI is largely useful in calculating the proportion of a population that is a healthy weight, overweight or obese, the report said.

But it can’t reveal an individual patient’s overall health, such as whether they have heart disease or other conditions, and it can’t distinguish between different types of body fat or measure more dangerous fat around the waist and organs.

Measuring a patient’s waist circumference or body fat mass, along with a detailed medical history, can provide a clearer picture than BMI, the report said.

Professor Rubino said: “Obesity is a health risk – the difference is that for some people it is also a disease.”

clinical obesity

When obesity becomes a disease, there are signs that it affects body organs and a person’s daily activities through things like heart disease, difficulty breathing, type 2 diabetes, or joint pain. It can be treated with medication or surgery.

preclinical obesity

When obesity poses a health threat but has not yet caused any disease, people should be given weight loss advice, counseling and monitoring to reduce the chance of developing health problems.

Doctors should also pay close attention to a patient’s family history to see if they are at risk for specific diseases.

The report said that at a time of widespread use of drugs that can reduce body weight by up to 20%, redefining obesity “makes more sense” because it “improves diagnostic accuracy”.

Weight-loss drugs like Wegovy and Mounjaro are generally restricted to patients with a BMI over 30 and existing weight-related health conditions.

Professor Louise Ball, an expert on childhood obesity at the University of Sydney who contributed to the report, said the new approach would allow adults and children with obesity to receive “more appropriate care” while reducing overdiagnosis and unnecessary treatment number of people.

The Royal College of Physicians said the report lays a solid foundation for “treating obesity with the same medical rigor and compassion as other chronic conditions”.

But others worry pressure on health budgets could mean less funding for “pre-obese” patients.