STAT+: New obesity tool aims to predict risk of 18 serious complications

STAT PlusHealth New obesity tool aims to predict risk of 18 serious complications Model goes beyond BMI, using range of signals to say who might benefit from GLP-1 drugs Manage alerts for this article Email this article Share this article By Elizabeth CooneyApril 30, 2026 Cardiovascular Disease Reporter Elizabeth Cooney[email protected]Elizabeth Cooney is a cardiovascular disease reporter at STAT, covering heart, stroke, and metabolic conditions. You can reach Liz on Signal at LizC.22. Body mass index has its limitations, but for now it’s the metric medicine often defaults to when predicting weight-related health problems. A new tool promises to better define who’s at risk for obesity complications, based on measures that include BMI but also family history, diet, current illness, and socioeconomic factors culled from medical records. One aim of the research is to better understand who’s a candidate for an obesity drug, often prescribed based on BMI alone or BMI in combination with another disease. Over time, GLP-1 medications, whose initial target was type 2 diabetes, have revealed their power to ease cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, liver disease, sleep apnea, and osteoarthritis, in addition to promoting significant weight loss. But discerning who’s the best fit for the costly, lifelong treatment has been uncertain. Advertisement “We really wanted to have an integrated model that enables us to look at not one, but 18 different obesity-relevant complications,” Claudia Langenberg, co-author of a study about the new model published Thursday in Nature Medicine, said in a media briefing Tuesday. She is director and professor of medicine and population health at Precision Healthcare University Research Institute of Queen Mary University of London. STAT+ Exclusive Story Already have an account? Log in This article is exclusive to STAT+ subscribers Unlock this article — plus in-depth analysis, newsletters, premium events, and news alerts. Already have an account? Log in Monthly $39 Totals $468 per year $39/month Get Started Totals $468 per year Starter $30 for 3 months, then $399/year $30 for 3 months Get Started Then $399/year Annual $399 Save 15% $399/year Get Started Save 15% 11+ Users Custom Savings start at 25%! Request A Quote Request A Quote Savings start at 25%! 2-10 Users $300 Annually per user $300/year Get Started $300 Annually per user View All Plans To read the rest of this story subscribe to STAT+. Subscribe Log In cardiovascular disease, chronic disease, Obesity, Pharmaceuticals, public health, STAT+ Submit a correction requestReprints Elizabeth Cooney Cardiovascular Disease Reporter Elizabeth Cooney is a cardiovascular disease reporter at STAT, covering heart, stroke, and metabolic conditions. You can reach Liz on Signal at LizC.22. Newsletter Understand how science, health policy, and medicine shape the world every day Recommended First Opinion April 30, 2026 Congress must hold RFK Jr. accountable after hearings Special Report April 30, 2026 Securing NIH awards is getting more competitive — and confusing Advertisement First Opinion April 30, 2026 Are international medical graduates taking residency spots from Americans? We did the math Politics April 29, 2026 HHS appeals ruling that stalled many of Kennedy’s vaccine policy changes Pharmalot April 29, 2026 STAT Plus: Supreme Court justices appear to signal ‘skinny labeling’ can survive Subscriber Picks