A commission proposed a new definition of obesity focused on how excess fat affects the body, rather than assessing body mass index, that could change clinical care.

A group of experts from around the world are proposing an alternative way of defining clinical obesity, eschewing the commonly referenced body max index (BMI) and instead approaching the condition

BMI, a widely used measure, has long been criticized for being too simplistic. It calculates obesity based only on height and weight, often misclassifying individuals. For example, athletes with high muscle mass may have a high BMI despite having normal fat levels.

The way the world defines obesity has been in need of an overhaul, according to some experts, and it could be coming soon thanks to a new set of standards.