Redefining Obesity: Impact of the ‘Clinical Obesity’ Framework on Global Prevalence Estimates

Highlight

• The 2025 Lancet Commission’s “clinical obesity” definition incorporates measures of adiposity and organ dysfunction, contrasting with traditional BMI-only diagnosis.
• Applying this definition in 56 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) resulted in over 50% reductions in obesity prevalence in some regions.
• The new framework improves disease specificity but raises questions about missed opportunities for primary prevention and surveillance challenges.
• Global implementation faces barriers related to data availability and potential undercounts in resource-limited settings.

Background