Obesity Tests and Diagnosis

  • Obesity
    Worldwide obesity has more than doubled since 1980. In 2014, more than 1.9 billion adults, 18 years and older, were overweight. Of these over 600 million were obese. 39% of adults aged 18 years and over were overweight in 2014, and 13% were obese. Most of the world's population live in countries where overweight and obesity kills more people than underweight. 42 million children under the age of 5 were overweight or obese in 2013. Obesity is preventable.
Submitted by PatientsEngage on 22 February 2016
Obesity Diagnosis

Tests for Obesity Diagnosis

  1. The measurement tools mentioned below are used to classify obesity.
  2. Blood tests for associated risk factors like cholesterols levels and blood sugar levels.
  3. Liver fat analysis.
  4. Bone density analysis.

Body mass index (BMI):

It is calculated as a person's weight in kilograms divided by the square of their height in meters (kg/m2).
WHO/US criteria label BMI 25–29.9 as overweight and ≥30 as obese.
Indian and Asia-Pacific guidelines lower these thresholds to overweight at BMI ≥23 and obesity at ≥25.

Waist Circumference:

As stated by WHO, WC > 94 cm in men and >80 cm in women is associated with an increased risk of metabolic complications.
This risk is significantly increased with a WC > 102 cm in men and >88 cm in women.
Asian cut-off is lower with males>90 cm and females>80 cm.

Hip circumference (HC):

Hip circumference is measured at the level of the widest circumference over the greater trochanters. This is done using a flexible narrow non-stretch tape. For measuring this circumference, the subject must be measured in a standing position at the end of a gentle expiration.

Waist-hip ratio (WHR):

The WHR is a straightforward indicator of central obesity.
The WHO classifies abdominal obesity in men as having a waist-to-hip ratio of at least 0.90. For women, the ratio is 0.85 or higher. A ratio greater than 1.0 for either sex indicates a significantly increased risk of health complications.

Wrist circumference (WrC):

WrC is thought to be a distinct fat distribution indication.
WrC with a cut-off of the 97th percentile is a good technique for identifying metabolic syndrome in overweight children and adolescents.

Neck circumference (NC):

Neck circumference can be used as an initial screening technique for overweight/obesity.
Men with an NC of 34.75 cm and women with an NC of 31.75 cm are considered overweight, whilst men with.
The optimum cut-off values for obesity were NC 35.5 cm in males and NC 32 5 cm in women.

Body fat percentage (Body composition analysis):

Body fat percentage of more than 25% in men and more than 30% in women are considered obese according to the endocrine society of India.

Changed
24/Mar/2025
Community
Diabetes
Heart and Cardio-vascular
Condition
Obesity

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