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International Study Reveals BMI Alone Insufficient for Accurate Obesity Diagnosis

International Study Reveals BMI Alone Insufficient for Accurate Obesity Diagnosis

An international study, published in Nature, involving 844,108 adults from China, the UK, the United States, and Spain, has found that Body Mass Index (BMI) alone is an inadequate measure for diagnosing obesity. Researchers from King's College London and an international team concluded that BMI can both overestimate and underestimate obesity, failing to differentiate between individuals with existing health problems due to excess body fat and those at increased risk without organ dysfunction. The study supports a new framework proposed in January 2025 by The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, which suggests categorizing obesity into 'clinical obesity' (where excess body fat impairs organ function) and 'preclinical obesity' (where excess body fat increases health risks but bodily function is preserved). The analysis showed that BMI alone missed obesity-level body fat in up to 8.6% of participants and incorrectly classified up to 3.1% as obese. Incorporating waist circumference and waist-to-height ratio signif...
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International Study, Including Pennington Biomedical, Validates New Obesity Diagnostic Framework Outperforming BMI

International Study, Including Pennington Biomedical, Validates New Obesity Diagnostic Framework Outperforming BMI

An international study, co-authored by the Pennington Biomedical Research Center in the United States, has validated a new diagnostic definition for obesity that significantly outperforms the traditional Body Mass Index (BMI). Published in Nature, this research, led by King’s College London, tested a framework proposed by a Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology Commission in January 2025. The new definition aims to address concerns that reliance on BMI alone leads to misdiagnosis for millions. It improves the identification of excess body fat and differentiates between clinical obesity, where excess body fat impairs organ function, and pre-clinical obesity, where health risks are increased but organ function remains preserved. The study analyzed health data from 844,108 adults across China, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Spain. It found that adding waist measurements to BMI assessments corrected misclassifications, revealing that BMI alone missed obesity-level body fat in up to 8.6% of participants a...
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Doctors urged to prescribe exercise like medicine

Doctors urged to prescribe exercise like medicine

A growing movement in health care is urging doctors to prescribe exercise with the same seriousness as medication. Here’s what that means for you.
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Center for Vein Recommends Caution with Heavy Lifting for Individuals with Varicose Veins

Center for Vein Recommends Caution with Heavy Lifting for Individuals with Varicose Veins

Center for Vein Recommends Caution with Heavy Lifting for Individuals with Varicose Veins
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American Medical Association Launches Campaign to Combat Health Misinformation

American Medical Association Launches Campaign to Combat Health Misinformation

The American Medical Association (AMA) has initiated a new campaign aimed at combating health misinformation and encouraging individuals to consult their doctors for reliable health information. The campaign, titled 'Did you ask your doctor?', seeks to counter the growing influence of social media, wellness influencers, and AI-generated content that often provides misleading or inaccurate medical advice. AMA President Willie Underwood III, MD, MSc, MPH, emphasized that online advice, while sometimes appearing convincing, lacks personalized knowledge of an individual's health history. The AMA's initiative includes public service announcement-style digital content and a dedicated website, DidYouAskYourDoctor.org, offering evidence-based articles reviewed by licensed physicians. This effort builds on the AMA's ongoing commitment to promoting accountability in healthcare, especially as augmented intelligence becomes more prevalent in medical information dissemination.
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Japanese Interval Walking Training: A Method for Enhanced Cardiovascular Fitness and Strength

Japanese Interval Walking Training: A Method for Enhanced Cardiovascular Fitness and Strength

Japanese Interval Walking Training: A Method for Enhanced Cardiovascular Fitness and Strength
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New Study to Evaluate Long-Term Health Benefits of Vegan and Vegetarian Diets

New Study to Evaluate Long-Term Health Benefits of Vegan and Vegetarian Diets

The 'Plant Your Health' study is a randomized controlled trial designed to provide long-term evidence on whether switching to a vegetarian or vegan diet directly improves health markers such as cholesterol, blood pressure, and body fat over a full year. While existing research links abundant plant food consumption to better heart health and lower rates of type 2 diabetes, doctors require more extensive long-term data. The study will involve three groups of adults who carry extra weight: one group adhering to a vegan diet (no animal foods), another to a vegetarian diet (dairy and eggs allowed, but no meat), and a control group continuing their normal diet, which includes meat. Participants will be tracked over 12 months to observe real-world changes in health, energy levels, and daily well-being.
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Cleveland Clinic Physician Advises Against Unnecessary Fever Medication, Emphasizes Supportive Care

Cleveland Clinic Physician Advises Against Unnecessary Fever Medication, Emphasizes Supportive Care

Cleveland Clinic Physician Advises Against Unnecessary Fever Medication, Emphasizes Supportive Care
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Dietitians Advocate for Protein and Fiber Pairing to Enhance Satiety and Blood Sugar Control

Dietitians Advocate for Protein and Fiber Pairing to Enhance Satiety and Blood Sugar Control

Dietitians Advocate for Protein and Fiber Pairing to Enhance Satiety and Blood Sugar Control
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Study suggests not all obesity means ill-health

Study suggests not all obesity means ill-health

By Jennifer Rigby LONDON, Nov 11 (Reuters) - Only between a quarter and a third of people currently diagnosed with obesity should be considered as in poor health, according to a new study that joins calls to overhaul how the condition is diagnosed.
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New Study Links Abdominal Fat to Increased Menopause Symptom Severity

New Study Links Abdominal Fat to Increased Menopause Symptom Severity

A recent study published in the journal *Menopause* indicates that abdominal fat, particularly visceral fat, may intensify the severity of menopause symptoms. Researchers analyzed data from over 1,100 women participating in the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN). The study moved beyond general weight or BMI, focusing instead on waist-to-height ratio as a marker for abdominal obesity. Findings revealed that women with higher levels of abdominal fat experienced more severe menopause symptoms, including hot flashes, night sweats, dizziness, sleep disturbances, palpitations, forgetfulness, and irritability. These symptoms also appeared more interconnected in this group. The research suggests that while hormonal shifts primarily drive menopause, visceral fat may amplify the physiological environment, contributing to increased inflammation and insulin resistance, which can worsen symptoms. This connection highlights that menopause symptoms are deeply linked to metabolic health, not solely hormonal ...
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Everyday Habits Identified as Key to Extending Life by Over a Decade

Everyday Habits Identified as Key to Extending Life by Over a Decade

Everyday Habits Identified as Key to Extending Life by Over a Decade