Current guidelines and future directions in comprehensive obesity assessment

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Endocrinology
• Clinical Medicine

Background:

• Obesity is a global chronic disease with increasing prevalence in Korea, leading to significant health and economic burdens.
• Current obesity diagnosis primarily relies on body mass index (BMI), a measure with recognized limitations in capturing overall health.
• International medical associations advocate for comprehensive obesity assessments beyond simple adiposity measures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To critically evaluate the limitations of BMI-centric obesity diagnosis.
• To summarize recent international guidelines and recommendations for obesity assessment.
• To explore alternative, multidimensional approaches for improved obesity evaluation and management.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of current obesity assessment methods.
• Analysis of limitations associated with BMI-based diagnosis.
• Synthesis of recommendations from major international obesity guidelines (e.g., Canadian, AACE, EASO, Lancet Commission).

Main Results:

• BMI is a widely used but insufficient metric for obesity assessment, failing to account for comorbidities, functional status, and mental health.
• Recent guidelines emphasize a multidimensional approach to obesity, integrating various health parameters.
• Alternative assessment strategies are emerging to provide a more holistic view of obesity and its impact.

Conclusions:

• Rethinking obesity diagnosis beyond BMI is crucial for effective public health strategies.
• Adopting comprehensive, multidimensional assessments will improve patient care and health outcomes.
• Further research into alternative obesity assessment tools is warranted to complement existing methods.