Study finds waist-focused obesity definition predicted mortality risk better than BMI alone
A study of data from more than 800,000 people found that an obesity definition incorporating waist circumference predicted mortality risk better than body mass index alone.
The proposed definition combines BMI with measures associated with excess body fat, including waist circumference, and distinguishes clinical from preclinical obesity based on health effects.
The study analyzed records from cohorts in China, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States. It does not change current clinical guidelines on its own.