for living with diabetes

As reported by Brenda Neugent in Diabetes Health, two groups are proposing a new definition of obesity that considers factors beyond body mass index.

The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) and the American College of Endocrinology (ACE) are calling for obesity to be defined by obesity-related complications along with body mass index.

The new definition, which includes five different categories, will allow physicians to better target treatments based on individual needs, experts said.

The five new proposed categories include:

1. Normal weight (BMI of less than 25).
2. Overweight (BMI of 25 to 29.9, no obesity-related complications)
3. Obesity stage 0 (BMI of 30 or greater and no obesity-related complications)
4. Obesity stage 1 (BMI of 25 or greater with the presence of one or more mild to moderate obesity-related complications).
5. Obesity stage 2 (BMI of 25 or greater and the presence of one or more severe obesity-related complications).

Obesity-related complications include the following: metabolic syndrome, prediabetes, Type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertension, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, polycystic ovary syndrome, sleep apnea, osteoarthritis, gastroesophageal reflux disease and disability/immobility.

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