Assessing obesity beyond body mass index: Integrating physiological and functional indicators of impairment in national health surveillance
Articles and reports: 82-003-X202600300001Description: Body mass index (BMI) is commonly used to estimate obesity prevalence; however, reliance on BMI alone can lead to an incomplete understanding of obesity’s impact on health. In line with the 2025 recommendations of the Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology Commission, this study used measured and self-reported data from the 2016 to 2019 Canadian Health Measures Survey to combine population-level measures of excess adiposity with indicators of physiological dysfunction and activity limitation across eight body system domains. Clinical and preclinical obesity were characterized by excess adiposity and progressive obesity-related impairment among Canadian adults.
Issue Number: 2026003Author(s): Bushnik, Tracey; Colley, Rachel C.; Manuel, Douglas G.DOI: https://doi.org/10.25318/82-003-x202600300001-engMain Product:Health Reports
