A new framework proposed by a global commission and endorsed by 76 medical organizations suggests diagnosing obesity using broader criteria, taking into account when the condition causes ill health. 

The Commission introduced two key definitions.

Clinical Obesity: A chronic illness characterized by structural or functional damage to organs, tissues, or the individual, caused directly by excess adiposity. It can lead to severe complications such as heart attack, stroke, and kidney failure.

Preclinical Obesity: A state of excess adiposity without evident organ dysfunction but with an increased risk of developing clinical obesity and related diseases, including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular conditions.