Under New Definition Of Obesity, Prevalence In The U.S. Rises From 42.9% Of Adults To 68.8%

Under a new definition of obesity that goes beyond the body-mass index (BMI) criteria to include organ dysfunction and/or physical limitations, the prevalence of obesity among adults in the United States rises from 42.9% to 68.6%. The prevalence estimate was based on data for more than 301,000 adults in the United States. The new definition was proposed by a recent Lancet Commission.  

The new definition of obesity includes, according to the analysis:

Elevated BMI plus at least one elevated measure (such as waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, and/or waist-to-height ratio) or . . .