Viewing obesity only as a risk factor and never as a disease can unfairly deny access to time-critical care for people who are ill solely because of obesity. On the other hand, a blanket definition of obesity as a disease leads to overdiagnosis and unwarranted use of medication and surgery, with potential harm to the individual and staggering costs to society.”
Professor Francesco Rubino, President of the Commission and transCampus member
29 January 2025
transCampus members contribute to new obesity guidelines
Members of transCampus, a unique partnership between King’s and Technische Universität Dresden, have contributed to the recently proposed guidelines on clinical obesity.
The Global Commission on Clinical Obesity goes beyond the body mass index (BMI) and suggests 18 criteria as guidelines for obesity diagnosis. These take into account additional measurements of body fat and objective signs of disease at an individual level.
The results were presented at an event organised by The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology in London in mid-January 2025, with a range of transCampus members present.
The Commission introduces two new diagnostic categories: ‘Clinical obesity’ is defined as a chronic disease associated with persistent organ dysfunction due to excessive weight. ‘Preclinical obesity’ is associated with an increased health risk, but is not a persistent disease.
With this, the Commission aims at overcoming the limitations of the traditional definition and diagnosis. The new guidelines for obesity should ensure the necessary care for those affected and help healthcare systems to adopt more precise methods for its diagnosis. The aim is to help people in a more targeted way and to utilise resources in a more efficiently.
A thorough and balanced definition of obesity is long overdue in order to address the medical and socio-economic challenges".
Professor Stefan Bornstein, transCampus dean and member of the health expert commission
The expert group included people with obesity during the decision process with the intention to prevent the widespread social stigmatisation from increasing as an – unintended – consequence.
We warmheartedly congratulate Prof. Rubino und Prof. Mingrone, two of our most esteemed transCampus Professors for an outstanding event and a true , and long awaited, milestone for all patients suffering from Obesity. We are very pleased and proud to have Transcampus partners being members of the this Lancet Experts Commission."
A spokesperson for transCampus
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Chair of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery
TransCampus Dean