Edmonton Obesity Staging System: From Concept to Clinical Reality

Dr. Mohan T. Shenoy, Consultant Endocrinologist, GG Hospital, Trivandrum

The study maps how the Edmonton Obesity Staging System can be practically applied, laying the foundation for a standardized clinical screening tool beyond BMI.

A study published in Adipositas highlighted a crucial gap in obesity care: while the Edmonton Obesity Staging System (EOSS) is widely recognized as a more meaningful way to classify obesity than BMI, clinicians still lack a practical tool to apply it routinely in practice. The review underscored that obesity is not merely excess weight but a chronic disease with medical, functional, and psychosocial dimensions that demand structured assessment.

Researchers conducted a systematic search of literature up to February 2024 and identified 24 relevant studies that had used EOSS in adults. From these, they extracted 101 assessment items across medical, mental, and functional domains. These ranged from laboratory markers such as HbA1c and blood pressure to patient-reported measures of mobility, mental health, and quality of life. The wide variation in methods revealed why EOSS has struggled to move from theory to bedside—it has never been standardized.

The findings were significant because they lay the groundwork for a future screening instrument based on EOSS. Such a tool could help clinicians identify high-risk patients earlier, tailor treatment more precisely, and shift care away from weight-centric approaches toward health-centered management.

As obesity rates continue to rise globally, this study reinforces a timely message: staging systems like EOSS must evolve from academic frameworks into usable clinical tools if they are to truly transform patient care.

(Source: Philipp A, Joisten C. Einsatz und Identifikation relevanter Items des Edmonton Obesity Staging Systems (EOSS): Eine systematische Literaturrecherche. Adipositas-Ursachen, Folgeerkrankungen, Therapie. 2025 Dec;19(04):236-46.)