Weight loss vs BMI: Why this new measurement tool helps you manage obesity better

What is the new patient-friendly tool all about?

The tool, which is now being tested as part of a validation study, is going to assess obesity on the basis of not one but several parameters — weight, body mass index (BMI), quality of life, mobility, whether the patient has high blood pressure, diabetes, any other co-morbidities, or mental health issues. Essentially eight to ten factors will be taken into account. Each of these factors has been assigned a score. If the score arrives at an X number, then the tool will guide the patient about whether their obesity is high, middling or low, and accordingly whether they need bariatric surgery, pharmacotherapy or lifestyle modification. It allows for self-assessment and has an efficacy of 70 per cent.

“It is like treating cancer as per the stage of the disease. Hence the severity of obesity can be understood as per the score and then one can get an understanding of the treatment they can avail of,” says Dr Bhasker.

Why is this tool much better than BMI?

Currently, obesity is evaluated using BMI in clinical settings. However, evidence suggests that measurements are unreliable and do not accurately reflect the correlation with severity of obesity-related health risks, and hence, are inadequate for guiding effective treatment intervention. So bariatric surgeons from India have developed this new scoring system. Besides Dr Bhasker from Mumbai, other surgeons for the project include Dr Atul N.C. Peters from New Delhi, Dr GS Jammu from Jalandhar, Dr Manish Khaitan from Ahmedabad, Dr Raj Palaniappan from Chennai, Dr Shashank S Shah from Pune, Dr Shivaram H V from Bengaluru and Dr Praveen Raj from Coimbatore. Each contributed their data to develop this score. They then tracked 1,046 obese patients as part of a study between August 2021 and August 2022 in which they had to answer a questionnaire digitally.

On calculating the score, it predicted bariatric surgery as a therapy for 66.63 per cent of patients, diet and exercise for 6.9 per cent and pharmacotherapy for 4.6 per cent of patients.

Why weight loss should be a family goal

Obesity is reaching epidemic proportions and in India, forecasts estimate that by 2040, 9.5 per cent of men and 13.9 per cent of women will be morbidly overweight.

That’s why besides just a calculative tool, the doctors emphasise the involvement of parents and caregivers in cultivating lifelong habits that mitigate the risk of obesity-related health problems in children and adolescents. It is crucial to limit the consumption of sugary foods and beverages while emphasizing the importance of family meals to cultivate better eating habits. “Engaging the entire family is key for sustainable lifestyle changes. Encouraging a positive body image is vital, as societal pressures and peer influence can lead to mental health issues like body dysmorphism and depression among youngsters. These psychological challenges can be exacerbated by issues related to weight and appearance, especially due to the ills of excessive screen time and social media. The sedentary nature of prolonged screen time can contribute to obesity, while the unrealistic body standards portrayed on social media can negatively impact body image and self-esteem. Hence it is essential to strike a balance between screen time and physical activity,” Dr Bhasker adds.