Waist Fat Matters More Than Weight: 70% US Adults Now Obese by New Criteria

• New Mass General Brigham study redefines obesity, classifying nearly 70% of US adults as obese, up from 43% by traditional BMI.
• The study emphasizes that fat distribution, especially abdominal and visceral fat, is as crucial as total weight in assessing health risks.
• BMI alone is misleading as it doesn't distinguish muscle from fat or reveal dangerous internal fat storage.
• "Anthropometric-only obesity" identifies individuals with normal BMI but high waist/hip measurements, who face increased risks of diabetes, heart disease, and mortality.
• Experts advocate for updated public health messages and targeted interventions focusing on fat distribution to address health risks effectively.

Why It Matters: Fat distribution, particularly waist fat, is a critical indicator of obesity and health risks, beyond BMI.