Trying to fit into a certain BMI range can be frustrating. As we talked about previously, BMI has nothing to do with health.
A great alternative classification is the Edmonton Obesity Staging System (EOSS). It’s been around since 2008 and gives us a better way to classify and understand obesity.
What’s great about the EOSS is it views an individual as a whole person (not just a number) and considers someone’s whole health picture.
EOSS has five stages (Stage 0 to 4) and considers the following areas:
- obesity-related risk factors: such as high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes
- physical symptoms: such as heartburn and osteoarthritis
- psychological symptoms: such as anxiety, depression, and eating disorders
- functional limitations: such as getting short of breath with activity
- general well-being
The EOSS is a much more comprehensive framework than simply measuring BMI, and we use this to help individuals struggling with weight.
We are all human. We are not defined by a disease or a number. The EOSS thinks about a bigger health picture and treats individuals as whole persons.
So instead of trying to achieve a “normal weight” BMI, we could shift our perspective towards optimizing overall health, reducing risk or burden of chronic disease, improving mental health, and above all, realizing we are humans worthy of healthy living and meaningful well-being.