More U.S. Women May Be Obese Than Thought

A new study, appearing in the May issue of Obstetrics and Gynecology, says that federal guidelines on obesity should be revised so more women fit into the category of “obese”.

Today, guidelines that determine who is obese is based on body-mass index, also known as BMI. Body-mass index measures wheter a person’s height and weight are proportional. But when comparing this to the World Health Organization‘s guidelines – which use body-fat analysis instead of BMI – about half of the women that were considered obese under the WHO’s guidelines, were not obese under federal guidelines.

Under the international guidelines, about half of white women and more than two-thirds of Latino women are considered obese. Study author Dr. Mahbubur Rahman, at the Univerisity of Texas‘ Medical Branch’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology said “It is especially important to accurately assess obesity in reproductive-age women, as they are more likely to be obese than similarly aged men.” He continues, “These women are at risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes and other obesity-related health conditions, and may forgo or be overlooked for needed tests and treatments.”

Dr. Abbey Berenson, director of the University’s Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Women’s Health, says “BMI is not ‘one size fits all.’ Inaccurate classification can decrease the impact of obesity prevention programs that will result in many women not receiving the help they need.”

To find out more about how to measure your BMI, look here.