Beyond BMI : The Impact of the New Lancet Commission Diagnostic Criteria on Prevalence of Obesity in the United States
Authors' conclusion
Using the Excess Adiposity criteria to define obesity classifies nearly three in five US adults as having obesity, revealing substantial clinical, public health, and policy implications. The new criteria improve identification of individuals at risk but will require further strategies to achieve equitable, effective, and sustainable obesity prevention and treatment.
Study context
- Population
- Adults aged ≥20 years, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999 to 2023
- Participants
- 58,053 adults
- Exposure
- Excess Adiposity criteria vs BMI criteria
- Outcome
- US prevalence of obesity over time
- Follow-up
- 1999-2004 to 2021-2023
Methodological detailssurvey-weighted, nationally representative
- Survey-weighted
- Nationally representative
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Obesity prevalence
BMI criteria, 1999-2004
31%
58.8 million
BMI criteria, 2021-2023
43%
101.3 million
Excess Adiposity criteria, 1999-2004
51%
94.7 million
Excess Adiposity criteria, 2021-2023
61%
143.9 million
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
- Prevalence of clinical obesity is high due to many people meeting criteria for organ dysfunction and/or activity limitations
Original publication
Beyond BMI : The Impact of the New Lancet Commission Diagnostic Criteria on Prevalence of Obesity in the United States. Obesity (Silver Spring). Published 22 February 2026. doi:10.
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