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Study Suggests A Better Way To Measure Obesity

By Dr. Brian McDonough

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - A new study suggests there is a better way to measure obesity and that our current methods are underestimating the problem.

The BMI or the Body Mass Index is the way we traditionally measure whether someone is obese or not.  We base most of our obesity statistics in this country on the BMI.

But now a new report takes a look at results from a Dexa scan, a scan that can look at fat, bone and muscle and determine whether or not someone is truly obese.

According to information from Dexa scans, we may be underestimating the number of Americans who suffer from obesity. This is an important issue because what it says is we need to be even more aggressive than we have been at trying to help people control their weight.

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