B is for body fat: a practical implementation of the new clinical obesity definition into preventive cardiology clinic

Obesity is a multifactorial disease with increasing prevalence in the United States and a major contributor to cardiovascular disease. The Lancet Commission recently issued a new definition of obesity to better capture individuals with excess body fat and metabolic consequences of adiposity. In this article, we provide a practical implementation of this new definition into a clinical practice using the ABC model of cardiovascular prevention, a framework to characterize major atherosclerotic risk factors. We recommend to emphasize B is for body fat, with routine measurement using body mass index and waist circumference, tailored history and physical exam to identify obesity-related diseases, lifestyle guidance, and pharmacological recommendations.