BMI paper

Dr. Leila Itani from Beirut Arab University participated in an international scientific study examining the limitations of relying on Body Mass Index (BMI) as a tool for assessing obesity. This study was conducted as part of an international research collaboration led by Dr. Marwan Al-Ghoch from the University of Modena in Italy, with the participation of a distinguished group of researchers specializing in nutrition and public health.

The study revealed that relying on BMI as a sole measure for evaluating obesity may lead to the misclassification of at least one-third of the population. This raises important concerns about its validity and accuracy as a standalone indicator for estimating obesity and its associated health risks.

The study received wide scientific and media attention, being covered by several leading international media outlets, including The Independent, Daily Mail, Sky News, La Repubblica, Medscape, and Daily Mirror, in addition to Al Arabiya, along with more than 70 other media organizations.

The study findings are scheduled to be officially presented at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO 2026), which will be held in Istanbul, Republic of Turkey, from May 12 to May 15, 2026, under the auspices of the European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO). This conference is considered one of the leading international scientific events in this field.