Doctors urged to change the method of diagnosis of obesity

Doctors urged to change the method of diagnosis of obesity

Researchers from the University of Alberta criticized the common method for diagnosing obesity is the body mass index (BMI).

Their position, they are justified in an article published in the journal Obesity.

The body mass index, calculated on the basis of body weight and the height works well for tracking trends in the scale of society, however, has limitations in application to the individual. So, often only by looking at the BMI value, the diagnosis of “obesity” can be put to many athletes.

According to the researchers, the diagnosis of obesity must be considered a lot more criteria than just weight and height.

Scientists developed a scale includes assessment of physical, mental, and functional health. However, they do not call to completely abandon body mass index, but use it as only one of the diagnostic tools.

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