Obesity Screening
Reviewed
Obesity screening uses body mass index (BMI) calculated from height and weight to estimate body fat and assess risk for weight-related health problems. It is not a diagnostic test and cannot measure exact body fat or diagnose any condition.
Preparation and collection
No preparation needed. If additional blood tests are ordered, fasting may be required.
Understanding this test
Use the reference interval and units printed by the laboratory that performed the test. A result outside that interval is not a diagnosis by itself, and a result inside it does not rule out every condition. Your symptoms, history, medicines, timing, and related tests can change what the result means.
- BMI cannot tell if your weight is from extra fat or muscle
- A very muscular person could have a BMI in the overweight range even without too much body fat
- Some people with a healthy BMI may still have high amounts of body fat
- Obesity screening does not show the amount of fat a person has and cannot diagnose any health conditions
What to do next
If your screening shows overweight or obesity, your provider will work with you on a treatment plan that may include lifestyle changes, counseling, weight-loss medicines, or surgery. Discuss all results and follow-up with your healthcare provider.