1. Body Mass Index (BMI) is a commonly used measurement indicator. BMI = weight (kg) / height (m) 2. The WHO defines BMI ≥ 25 as overweight and ≥ 30 as obese. The Asia-Pacific Regional Symposium on Diagnostic Criteria for Obesity and Overweight, based on the fact that Asians are prone to abdominal or visceral obesity even at relatively low BMIs, and that these patients show a significantly increased risk of hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and proteinuria, proposed that BMI ≥ 23 be overweight and BMI ≥ 25 be obese.
2. Ideal weight: Ideal weight (kg) = height (cm) - 105; or height minus 100 then multiplied by 0.9 (male) or 0.85 (female). Those whose actual weight exceeds their ideal weight by 20% are considered obese; those whose actual weight exceeds their ideal weight by 10% but less than 20% are considered overweight.
3. Body fat distribution characteristics can be measured using waist circumference or waist-to-hip ratio (WHR). Waist circumference is the diameter measured at the midpoint between the costal margin and the anterior superior iliac spine along the mid-axillary line; hip circumference is the diameter measured at the most prominent part of the buttocks; waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) is the ratio of waist circumference to hip circumference. A waist circumference ≥90cm for men and ≥80cm for women, and a WHR >0.9 (men) or >0.8 (women), can be considered central obesity.
4. The degree of subcutaneous fat accumulation can be estimated by the thickness of the subcutaneous fat layer. The average subcutaneous fat thickness on the shoulder blades of a normal 25-year-old is 12.4 mm; a thickness greater than 14 mm indicates excessive fat accumulation. The average subcutaneous fat thickness in the triceps area is 10.4 mm for 25-year-old men and 17.5 mm for 25-year-old women.
5. Visceral fat can be measured using B-mode ultrasound, dual-energy X-ray ablation, bone densitometer, CT scan, or MRI. After confirming obesity, it is important to differentiate between simple obesity and secondary obesity.
