Health
BMI is wrong way to measure obesity, researchers say — here’s what they recommend instead
A group of 58 researchers is calling for a new, better way to measure obesity.
The global team’s recommendations were published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology on Jan. 14.
Body mass index (BMI) has been the international standard for measuring obesity since the 1980s, according to many sources, though some experts have questioned its validity.
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A person’s BMI is calculated by dividing his or her weight by the square of his or her height in feet.
Body mass index (BMI) has been the international standard for measuring obesity since the 1980s, according to many sources, though some experts have questioned its validity. (iStock)
“Obesity is a complex problem and has different significance at the individual level,” the report’s lead author Francesco Rubino, chair of bariatric and metabolic surgery at King’s College London, United Kingdom, told Fox News Digital.
Obesity is a “spectrum,” he said, rather than a “single, distinct clinical entity.”
Rubino went on, “It is impossible to say if obesity is a disease or not, as disease status cannot coincide with body size or mere excess body fat.”
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The Commission on Clinical Obesity has proposed a “reframing” of obesity that distinguishes between people who have a disease here and now, and those who may have a risk for future disease, Rubino said.
Instead of relying solely on BMI, the researchers recommend also measuring adiposity, which is the amount of excess body fat.
A person’s BMI is calculated by dividing his or her weight by the square of his or her height in feet. (iStock)
Adiposity can be determined by measuring a person’s waist circumference or taking body scans to measure fat mass, according to the researchers.
The group of experts recommends using two levels of obesity: preclinical and clinical.
With preclinical obesity, the person has excess body fat that has not affected the function of their tissues and organs.
“People with clinical obesity suffer from a chronic illness and should be treated in the same way as people who suffer from any other chronic disease.”
The person may have, however, an increased risk of developing clinical obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and some types of cancer, the researchers noted.
Clinical obesity is defined as “a chronic, systemic illness characterized by alterations in the function of tissues, organs, the entire individual or a combination thereof, due to excess adiposity.”
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With clinical obesity, the person may experience “severe end-organ damage, causing life-altering and potentially life-threatening complications,” the researchers wrote.
Potential effects of clinical obesity may include heart attack, stroke and kidney failure.
“As these categories of obesity are entirely new, we can’t measure their relative prevalence in the population,” Rubino noted. “Doctors have not yet had the possibility to make such a diagnosis, because many of the organ dysfunctions that characterize clinical obesity have not been routinely assessed so far.”
When excess body fat is confirmed, clinicians should assess individuals to determine whether obesity may have caused any organ dysfunction, the study researcher said. (iStock)
The researchers call for future studies into these diagnoses.
“We recommend that clinicians thoroughly assess people with obesity in the clinic and use other measures of body size — waist circumference or others — to understand if an increased BMI level is due to excess body fat or other reasons, like increased muscle mass,” Rubino told Fox News Digital.
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When excess body fat — meaning obesity — is confirmed, clinicians should assess individuals to determine whether obesity may have caused any organ dysfunction, the researcher said.
“People with clinical obesity suffer from a chronic illness and should be treated in the same way as people who suffer from any other chronic disease,” Rubino said.
People with preclinical obesity should undergo “evidence-based health counseling, monitoring of their health status over time, and, when applicable, appropriate intervention to reduce risk of developing clinical obesity,” they wrote.
Between August 2021 and August 2023, approximately 40% of U.S. adults had obesity, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Around 9.4% of those adults had severe obesity.
‘Outdated measure’
Dr. Brett Osborn, a neurosurgeon, longevity expert and fitness competitor based in Florida, agrees that BMI is an “outdated measure” for diagnosing obesity.
“It is clear that obesity should no longer be defined solely by physical appearance or weight.”
“As medicine evolves, it is clear that obesity should no longer be defined solely by physical appearance or weight — or weight relative to height, as in BMI calculations,” the doctor, who was not involved in this new research, told Fox News Digital.
“Instead, the condition must be understood through the lens of metabolic dysfunction.”
Obesity isn’t just a disease of excess weight, Osborn said, but a “systemic metabolic disorder requiring nuanced and individualized care.”
The condition is better measured by looking at factors like inflammation, insulin resistance and glucose tolerance, according to the doctor.
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In some cases, using BMI can result in “muscular athletes” being labeled as obese, he noted, and people with “normal” BMI can sometimes have “harmful” levels of visceral (abdominal) fat.
Osborn noted that in his own clinic, he and his team do not use BMI, relying instead on visceral fat scores, skeletal muscle mass and body fat percentage.
In some cases, using BMI can result in “muscular athletes” being labeled as obese, one doctor noted. (iStock)
Skeletal muscle mass (the muscles that connect to the bones) is critical to physical strength and metabolic efficiency, Osborn said.
For optimal health, he recommends that males aim for 50% skeletal muscle mass relative to total body weight and females target 45% — although other factors, like age and fitness levels, come into play.
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“Remember, your resilience — your ability to ward off disease — resides in your muscle,” Osborn added.
“By integrating body composition metrics, metabolic markers and personalized assessments, we can more accurately diagnose obesity and tailor interventions to each individual.”
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Health
Parasitic infection causing ‘explosive’ stomach illness exceeds 1,000 cases in northern state
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Cases of cyclosporiasis infections are rising across America, with more than 1,000 people diagnosed in Michigan and more than 500 in Ohio.
This is the largest outbreak of its kind in Michigan’s history and one of the country’s largest in years, according to the Associated Press.
The parasitic infection can cause weeks of watery diarrhea. The source of the infections has not been identified and no deaths have been reported.
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Michigan officials announced the outbreak last week following the identification of more than 170 cases since June 22 in the southeastern part of the state. Typically, only about 50 cases are identified in Michigan each year, according to AP.
A cyclospora infection often causes watery, “explosive” diarrhea that can last for weeks or even months if left untreated, the CDC says. (iStock)
Similar illnesses have been reported in 28 other states, including neighboring Ohio, where diagnoses have popped up across the Michigan border.
Cases have been climbing since the CDC identified an uptick in infections in mid-June, with illnesses now reported in dozens of states.
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Michigan has now reported more than 1,200 cases and at least 40 hospitalizations. In Ohio, northwest counties have identified more than 500 cases, including at least 306 in Lucas County, according to the latest available local figures.
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Texas has reported at least 48 cases, and illnesses have been identified in numerous other states as health officials investigate the source.
The hallmark symptom of a cyclospora infection is watery, often “explosive” diarrhea that can last for weeks or even months if left untreated, the CDC says.
Other symptoms of cyclosporiasis include severe abdominal cramping, bloating, nausea, fatigue and significant weight loss. (iStock)
Other symptoms include severe abdominal cramping, bloating, nausea, fatigue and significant weight loss.
The official outbreak season for the parasite runs from May 1 through Aug. 31, a window where warmer temperatures historically coincide with a spike in infections, according to the CDC.
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While the infection can sometimes clear up on its own, it frequently requires antibiotics. The CDC advises anyone experiencing symptoms of cyclosporiasis to contact a healthcare provider for testing and treatment.
The CDC, alongside the Food and Drug Administration and state health officials, is actively investigating several multistate clusters, but they have yet to find a cause behind the spread.
Fresh produce should be washed thoroughly before eating, although this may not eliminate the risk of infection, the AP noted. (iStock)
Past infections have reportedly been linked to consuming contamined fruits or vegetables, or being exposed to contaminated irrigation water.
Fresh produce should be washed thoroughly before being eaten, although this may not eliminate the risk of infection, the AP noted.
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Michigan officials recommend purchasing salad mixes or whole heads of lettuce instead of pre-washed, bagged lettuce. Remove two to three leaves from the outer layer of the lettuce head before washing and cook vegetables when possible.
Fox News Digital’s Khloe Quill contributed to this report.
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Washington, DC – GLP-1 weight-loss drugs have become a prevalent part of American healthcare, and the current administration is getting behind the movement.
In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital at the Great American State Fair in the nation’s capital on July 6, CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz voiced his support for the use of GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) medications, such as Ozempic, for appropriate uses.
“I’m a fan of GLP-1 drugs when used correctly,” he said. “They do help people who are overweight lose weight quite effectively. They’re not a replacement for diet and exercise, but they might jumpstart the system so it’s easier for you to use healthier tactics.”
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This is especially helpful for those who may have trouble moving due to joint pain or are experiencing internal dysfunction, Oz said.
Certain GLP-1 drugs are covered by Medicare for overweight candidates with certain conditions, such as high blood pressure and diabetes, and Oz projected the benefits will continue to benefit taxpayers.
Dr. Mehmet Oz is pictured in Washington, D.C., at the Great American State Fair, where he spoke about federal health policy. (Angelica Stabile/Fox News Digital)
“We believe these are so effective in reducing conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes that they’ll actually save money for the federal taxpayer, because [they’re] going to make you healthy enough that you don’t have to consume health services,” Oz said.
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“We think about 70% of all the money we spend on healthcare is caused by chronic conditions, and obesity is the No. 1 driver of all that, so it’s a smart decision.”
Oz recently announced the launch of the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge program, which will allow more seniors to access GLP-1 drugs for only $50 a month if they meet qualifying health criteria and receive prior authorization from a doctor.
The doctor expressed support for broadening affordable access to GLP-1 medications for Americans. (iStock)
“There are a lot of overweight people who don’t have high blood pressure, diabetes or other conditions, so they don’t get access to the drug normally,” he said. “We want them to have the ability to use it as well.”
Although these access shifts could boost Americans’ overall health — and in some cases could be lifesaving — Oz noted that there is “no silver bullet” when it comes to these medications.
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“I love the fact that the innovation that’s coming out of pharmaceutical companies is allowing us to save lives and make lives better,” he said. “But the real secret to longevity is eating right, exercising, sleeping, dealing with the stress of your life, finding some purpose in your existence [and] realizing you have agency over the future.”
“These are things that your mom would have told you [and that] you don’t need a doctor to be emphasizing.”
Medicating appropriately, combined with eating right, exercising and staying connected with others, can help make health goals attainable, the doctor said. (iStock)
While GLP-1s may not be a fix-all, combining these medications with foundational health practices “makes a lot of sense,” Oz said.
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“I don’t want people being fat-shamed … I don’t want you feeling guilty that you’re gaining weight even though everyone else around you seems to have figured it out,” he said. “It’s not that simple — our set points for hunger are different. We have different things going on in our lives.”
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“But if you realize how precious you are — the temple of the soul is so valuable. It’s the greatest gift your parents ever gave you, and you take advantage of every tool out there to make it work … which includes using medications when appropriate. That, to me, is MAHA.”
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