Are you 'clinically obese'? Watch out for these warning signs
Medical experts are moving away from relying solely on Body Mass Index (BMI) to diagnose obesity, favoring a new definition of 'clinical obesity.' This approach considers physical symptoms, body fat distribution, and organ function rather than just height-to-weight ratios.
Why it matters
This shift in diagnostic criteria could lead to more accurate health assessments and personalized treatment plans for patients struggling with weight-related health issues.
Weather ePaper Today’s Paper Journalism of Courage Home ePaper Politics Explained Opinion India Business Premium Cities UPSC Entertainment Sports World Lifestyle Tech Subscribe Sign In Trending UPSC Offer Long Reads Legal News Health Research Games 🎙️ Podcast Advertisement News Lifestyle Health Why BMI isn’t enough: Expert explains new definition of clinical obesity Why BMI isn’t enough: Expert explains new definition of clinical obesity The key difference is that BMI is a screening tool, while clinical obesity is a disease diagnosis, based on symptoms, body fat levels, and health complications. By: Lifestyle Desk 4 min read New Delhi Jun 3, 2026 02:30 PM IST Are you clinically obese? (Magnific) Make us preferred source on Google Whatsapp twitter Facebook Reddit PRINT BMI, or Body Mass Index, is a simple calculation based on a person s height and weight, commonly used to classify people as underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese. However, Dr Mahesh D M, Senior Consultant – Endocrinology, Aster CMI Hospital, Bangalore, like many other medical experts, reiterates that BMI does not measure body fat directly and cannot show how excess fat is affecting a person s health . To overcome these limitations, experts from The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology Commission introduced the concept of clinical obesity.
The article provides health information based on medical consensus and expert opinion without political or social bias.
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