Overview
Obesity has the potential to alter an individual’s quality of life. The condition can have direct impacts on physical and emotional well-being; hence a quicker diagnosis is quintessential. It helps you counteract the risk quicker so you don’t have to struggle with the consequences that come with being obese.
How is Obesity Diagnosed?
Obesity is directly reliant on the Body-Mass Index (BMI) of an individual. So, the direct and only way of diagnosis is by measuring the person’s BMI.
When you consult a doctor with a potential complication of obesity, they will measure your height and weight first.
The parameters are then entered into the BMI calculator to get the final result.
If the person’s BMI is 30.0 or higher, they are considered obese. Even if you are 25.0 and high, chances are that your doctor will ask you to be on high alert.
Besides calculating the BMI, your doctor will also ask for a thorough rundown of your medical history. This is to assess any potential and active causes behind the condition.
As for physical examinations or tests, your doctor might monitor your heart functions and measure your blood pressure to assess whether the risk of obesity is affecting your heart and lung function or not.
What Tests will be Done to Diagnose Obesity?
There are no “standard” tests to diagnose obesity. Only a BMI calculation is enough to determine the diagnosis and then proceed with the next step of treatment.