Obesity is a chronic disease that increases morbidity. Body mass index (BMI), size tower, fat mass index … All the methods used to measure obesity do not necessarily have the same reliability. Explanations.
Between slight overweight and worrying obesity, how to properly assess the situation and take the appropriate measures? The World Health Organization (WHO) defines overweight and obesity such as “An abnormal or excessive accumulation of body fat that represents a health risk.“Depending on the distribution of fat mass, the risks of developing these diseases are different. Thus, theaccumulation of fat at the abdomen generates more complications that accumulation of fat distributed in a homogeneous manner over the whole body. Several methods are currently used to assess the corpulence and excess fat. For the High Authority for Health “It is essential to Start by measuring the BMI and the waist To determine the level of adiposity and the distribution of adipose tissues “. These measures constitute a reference point to monitor the evolution of the BMI or the size round over time, especially if we provide a weight loss intervention. Indirect fat measurements such as theskin folds thicknessL‘impedancemetry and the Tour of waist/hip tour “Put problems with precision and accuracy”. There measurement of impedancemetry is not recommended as a substitute for the BMI for the measurement of general adiposity.
First calculation tool: the body mass index (BMI). To measure it, simply divide the weight (in kilograms) by the size (in meters) raised to the square. For example, a person who weighs 65 kg for 1.70 meters will have a BMI of 65/(1.70) ² = 22.5. Even if BMI is the most used method to assess obesity, it remains approximate because it does not take into account bone, fat and muscle mass. Thus, since the muscles weigh heavier than fat, a large sportsman can for example have a BMI superior to an overweight person. In addition, in children, the BMI is not suitable to estimate excess weight. We must then refer to Corpulence curves Depending on the age and sex of the child present in the health book.
Measuring the waist tower makes it possible to assess the abdominal fat. For a BMI greater than 25 kg/m2 and less than 35 kg/m2, the clinical examination must be completed by measuring the waist tower in halfway between the last coast and the top of the iliac crest. This makes it possible to identify an excess of fat in the belly. The measurement of the waist was specified by the WHO in 2008 and by the Belgian Association for the Study of Obesity (BASO) in 2002. In Europe, abdominal obesity is defined by a Size tower ≥ 80 cm in women and ≥ 94 cm in humans. In the United States, Superior values of the waist tower are currently used for the clinical diagnosis of abdominal obesity (≥ 88 cm in women and ≥ 102 cm in humans). The waist is measured, slightly apart, up to the navel and on a slight expiration.
► In the event of a high size, the goal is to stabilize the weight and reduce the waist. In the event of associated comorbidity, the objective is the Weight loss and/or reduction of the waist tower.
The waist/hip tour ratio is one of the indirect mass measurements of the fat. It is not recommended first of all in the diagnosis of obesity. To have a precise idea of the distribution of fat in the body, a measurement of the size of the waist on the hip tour can be effective. The overweight will be declared if this report is greater than 0.85 for a woman and more than 1 for a man.
The fat mass index (IMA) or fat mass index (IMG) is a calculation taking into account the size of the hip tower, sex and age (in addition to size and weight). But this index is not currently used in medicine for the moment.
A blood test guarantees an optimal analysis of the situation. A complete blood test, in particular a dosage of lipids will allow the doctor to reliably assess the patient’s overweight and the risks to his health. The doctor will then be able to deliver Adapted Advice and Treatments to help the person concerned to reduce their excess fat.
