New advances in the understanding of the diagnosis and treatment of obesity

Abstract

There are new ways of conceiving the diagnosis of obesity, which include differentiating between obesity as a risk factor (preclinical obesity) and obesity as a disease in its own right (clinical obesity). Historically, people have been classified and obesity diagnosed based on a single parameter: the body mass index (BMI), determining whether a person is healthy or ill based on their body weight. This has led health professionals to develop interventions based exclusively on anthropometric criteria, reinforcing negative constructs of corporality.

The BMI tool is widely used in society, so the diagnosis of obesity or overweight is often not made by a health professional but by the person attending the consultation. These problematic have led the discussion about consensus for the diagnosis, classification, and definition of obesity to transcend the academic sphere. So much so that social and activist movements are beginning to question clinical practices, certain treatments, and methods for diagnosing obesity, highlighting the need to incorporate approaches from a diversity perspective. The implementation of the new diagnostic framework proposed by The Lancet Commission should facilitate more accessible and effective treatment, free from discrimination and prejudice. The objective of this review is to understand the scope of the new diagnostic criteria and invite reflection and review of practices in our profession.