India Revises Obesity Guidelines: Beyond BMI, Experts Focus on Holistic Measures

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): : Health experts have emphasized the need to look beyond Body Mass Index (BMI) as a standalone measure of obesity, advocating for a more comprehensive approach. The revamped obesity guidelines for India, released after 15 years, now focus on assessing abdominal fat and associated health risks rather than relying solely on BMI.

According to the new definition, published in The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology, obesity is categorized into two stages: preclinical and clinical. Preclinical obesity involves excess fat accumulation without impairing organ function while clinical obesity is marked by systemic health issues such as metabolic or cardiovascular abnormalities. Dr. Naval Vikram from AIIMS, New Delhi highlighted the need for more precise measurements including waist circumference or waist-to-height ratio for diagnosing obesity.

Experts also pointed to India’s rising obesity crisis with the prevalence doubling in the past two decades. Dr. Anoop Misra from Fortis C-DOC Hospital underscored the growing issues of childhood obesity and abdominal fat which are linked to conditions like diabetes, fatty liver disease and cardiovascular disorders. Poor dietary habits, sedentary lifestyles and shrinking opportunities for physical activity were identified as contributing factors. To combat obesity, experts recommended balanced, home-cooked meals and limiting high-fat, high-sugar foods, alongside promoting physical activity and healthy lifestyle changes.