Core Insights - A new study indicates that nearly 70 percent of American adults are classified as obese under a revised definition that includes additional anthropometric measures alongside BMI [1][5][6] Definition of Obesity - The traditional definition of obesity was based solely on BMI, but a new definition incorporates body measurements such as waist circumference and waist-to-height ratio [3][4] - An individual is classified as obese if they meet one of three criteria: elevated BMI with at least one elevated anthropometric measure, a BMI greater than 40, or at least two elevated anthropometric measures regardless of BMI [4] Prevalence of Obesity - In a study analyzing 301,026 participants, 42.9 percent were classified as obese under traditional BMI criteria, while 68.6 percent were classified as obese under the new definition [5][6] - The study found that obesity prevalence increases with age, with 25.9 percent of participants previously not classified as obese now reclassified under the new criteria [6][8] Clinical and Preclinical Obesity - The study introduces the concepts of clinical and preclinical obesity, where clinical obesity involves organ dysfunction or physical limitations, while preclinical obesity does not [7][10] - Approximately 36.1 percent of participants were found to have clinical obesity, with a higher proportion among those classified under the new definition [8][10] Health Implications - The new definition identifies individuals at higher long-term risk for diabetes, cardiovascular events, and mortality [11] - The study highlights the limitations of BMI as a sole marker for obesity, emphasizing the importance of body fat distribution [13][14] Obesity Statistics in the U.S. - The CDC reports that obesity is a significant chronic disease in the U.S., affecting one in five children and two in five adults [14][15] - Contributing factors to obesity prevalence include low vegetable consumption and insufficient physical activity among the population [16]