BMI, a widely used measure, has long been criticized for being too simplistic. It calculates obesity based only on height and weight, often misclassifying individuals. For example, athletes with high muscle mass may have a high BMI despite having normal fat levels.

The condition is better measured by looking at factors like inflammation, insulin resistance, and glucose tolerance, according to the doctor. 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.

Leading health experts challenge traditional BMI measurements and introduce a comprehensive new approach to diagnosing obesity, potentially affecting millions.

An international team of doctors proposed a new way to define obesity that's not based solely on BMI. Here's what they suggest.

Theories suggest UTI and constipation are related, but one does not necessarily cause the other at this stage in research. Learn about treating both here.

The US plans to slash the price it pays for Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic and Wegovy, the latest drugs to be targeted under legislation that’s expected save the government more than $200 billion over ...

People with higher body mass indexes say they're relieved by experts' new guidance to downplay the use of BMI in diagnosing people with weight problems or obesity.

Obesity should no longer be diagnosed solely based on body mass index (BMI); advanced body fat measures provide a clearer picture Pre-clinical obesity identifies risk factors early, while clinical ...

A clinical trial has backed the safety and efficacy of one of Novo Nordisk's weight-loss medicines in children as young as six, showing a significant drop in body mass index (BMI). The study used ...

Specific recommendations for adolescents (<18 years) Prepregnancy BMI cut-points based on CDC BMI charts; weight gain in upper range of the recommended values Prepregnancy BMI cut-points based on ...

New Rule Seeks to Expand Medicare and Medicaid Coverage of Weight Loss Drugs. The Biden Administration has proposed a new rule that would expand Medicare and Medicaid coverage for enrollees seeking prescription drugs popularized in recent years as weight-loss expedients.

The report’s findings suggest that BMI — the measurement traditionally used by medical professionals to determine healthy weight ranges — does not provide a nuanced enough assessment of ...