The research is certainly one of many which have prompt completely different cut-off factors for BMI over time.
But it is unlikely BMI might be ditched anytime quickly – it is less expensive than scanning individuals to quantify their physique fats precisely.
The researchers admit bigger research in different nations are wanted to verify the outcomes. This research solely checked out adults in a single area of Italy and did not take a look at the distribution of fats in individuals’s our bodies – solely the share of the physique made up of fats.
It additionally did not ask individuals about their diets or train habits to work how why some individuals may be extra in danger from weight problems than others.
By itself, it isn’t clear whether or not physique fats evaluation can be be a definitive measurement both.
“We want a easy device to display for weight problems that may be obtainable for anybody,” co-author Prof Marwan El Ghoch, from the College of Beirut, mentioned.
Prof Naveed Sattar, from the College of Glasgow, mentioned: “Moderately than chopping the weight problems thresholds to 27, which might imply round half the adults in UK reside with weight problems, different definitions of weight problems that embrace additionally waist circumference, mixed with particular indicators and signs of extra weight, are prone to be extra informative.”
The seek for the fitting device continues.