Obesity: Europe develops new formula to measure BMI

European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO)EASO) published a study in the scientific journal Nature Medicine in which he indicated that the body mass index (BMI) may not be sufficient to indicate obesity.

In the study, the organization proposed a new method for calculating body fat percentage, which takes into account waist circumference and psychological aspects, in addition to the usual methods.

According to the study, BMI is calculated by dividing the square of height by weight, but it excludes other factors associated with excess weight, such as abdominal fat accumulation.

According to the body mass index, a person is already considered obese when the index is equal to or greater than 30 kg/m2.

But according to the new framework proposed by EASO, the value will be 25 kg/m2, in addition to accumulated fat in the abdomen, a waist-to-height ratio above 0.5 and the presence of any medical, functional or psychological disabilities as complications in the definition of obesity.

“This statement will bring obesity management closer to the management of other chronic non-communicable diseases, in which the goal is not short-term intermediate outcomes, but long-term health benefits,” the authors said.

Future treatments for obesity

The study also says it’s important to maintain previous recommendations for treating people who are very overweight, and recommends lifestyle changes for patients diagnosed with the disease.

“Behavioral modifications, including dietary therapy, physical activity, stress reduction and improved sleep, are agreed upon as the cornerstones of obesity management, with the potential addition of psychotherapy, obesity medications and metabolic or bariatric procedures (surgical and laparoscopic),” the researchers note.

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