Feature|Articles|March 5, 2025

Lancet Commission Redefines Clinical Obesity, Moving Beyond BMI

“The Commission reinforces that obesity is a disease and not due to lack of motivation, willpower, discipline, or laziness,” Robert F. Kushner said.

In January 2025, The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology published its Commission on the definition of clinical obesity as well as diagnostic criteria. With the new definitions, the Commission has identified preclinical obesity as a risk factor and clinical obesity as a stand-alone illness, according to the authors.