Obesity New Definition: Indian doctors have redefined obesity with new guidelines that consider the unique health challenges faced by the population.
This study gives Indians a unique, targeted approach to tackle obesity and related diseases. (Photo: Getty Images)
New Delhi, UPDATED: Jan 15, 2025 15:11 IST
For decades, doctors have used body mass index (BMI) as a tool to measure obesity. BMI is defined as a measure of body fat based on a person’s weight in kilograms divided by the square of their height in metres. A person with their BMI over 30 is usually considered obese.
However, doctors have said that sometimes, people with excess body fat don’t always have a BMI over 30, which means that their health risks can go unnoticed. Therefore, top experts from India have redefined obesity for Indians in a landmark study, addressing the unique health challenges faced by the population.
Experts, such as doctors, surgeons, physiotherapists, and nutritionists from the National Diabetes Obesity and Cholesterol Foundation (N-DOC), Fortis C-DOC Hospital, and the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), have provided guidelines for obesity treatment and diagnosis after 15 years, similar to the new definition released by The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology on January 15.
“This study gives Indians a unique, targeted approach to tackle obesity and related diseases,” said Dr. Naval Vikram, Department of Medicine, AIIMS.
Although excess body fat can cause health problems, obesity is of
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