Two professional obesity organizations have expressed concerns about the Lancet Commission’s new obesity definition, but its lead author says that much of the concern reflects misinterpretation.
On January 14, 2025, the Lancet Commission redefined obesity by classifying it as either “clinical obesity,” a disease, or “preclinical,” a health risk factor. They recommended that obesity be first diagnosed via confirmation of excess adiposity using measures such as waist circumference or waist-to-hip ratio in addition to body mass index. Next, the presence or absence of signs and symptoms of organ dysfunction due to obesity and/or functional limitations determines whether the individual has “clinical” or “preclinical” obesity.
The Commission was chaired by Francesco Rubino, MD, professor and chair of…