Body mass index as an indicator of obesity

Undernutrition and hunger have always formed the foundation of the Food and Agriculture Organisation’s (FAO) mandate. Working in collaboration with the International Dietary Energy Consultative Group (IDECG), FAO began to examine both appropriate cut-off points of the body mass index (BMI) at the lower end of the spectrum and the functional consequences of low BMI (<16.0 = Category III Chronic Energy Deficiency (CED); 16.0 – 16.9 = Category II CED; 17.0 – 18.4 = Category I CED). Over the past decade FAO has recognized the growing obesity epidemic occurring not only in the developed world but also among all income and socioeconomic groups of the developing world. In response, FAO and the World Health Organization (WHO) have collaborated together in joint initiatives. Following the WHO 1998 Obesity Consultation on Preventing and Managing the Global Epidemic, a number of regions examined their individual situation regarding obesity. In looking at the BMI risk-based cut-off points, there appeared to be need for a tailoring of the cut-off points for Asia. The publication The Asia-Pacific Perspective: Redefining Obesity and its Treatment (2000) proposed areaspecific cut points. While such efforts to individualize reference values to a region or situation are attractive and even commendable, there is always the danger of creating confusion particularly if later these figures are changed. It is very important that before values are promulgated, a thorough review is conducted and full confidence can be placed on them.