Rather than BMI (a measure of weight), the Edmonton Obesity Staging System (EOSS) ranks severity of obesity based on clinical assessment of weight-related health problems, mental health and quality of life. We proposed that this system would provide a far better guide to clinical decision making than using BMI class alone.
As we have now implemented the use of this system in our clinic and in the referral requirements to our program, we have also developed a simple chart and pocket tool that can be used as a reminder in a clinical setting.
Click here for Edmonton Obesity Staging System Chart
Click here for Edmonton Obesity Staging System Pocket Card
All comments are greatly appreciated.
AMS
Edmonton, Alberta
In The News
October 8th, 2009 at 8:42 am
How nice to see a practical and more holistic tool like this!
Is there a working definition for “mild, moderate, significant, and severe”?
Is it only “OR”, or would the staging be the same if a patient has more than one of the listed criteria? i.e., “AND /OR”
There are a couple of typos in the pocket card “an established obesity-related comorbidities” and “obesity-realted”.
October 8th, 2009 at 10:14 am
I would LOVE to see this evaluation method implemented! I HATE that in the current system for bariatric surgery approval, so many weight-related health issues are ignored simply because they’re not life-”threatening” (regardless of the fact that they ARE life-COMPROMISING), and I hate even more that the psychological toll of obesity-related social-discrimination, ostracism, self-hatred and low self-esteem has NEVER been taken into consideration. The current system basically negates the whole idea of physical and MENTAL health being connected. So — I hope this excellent new staging tool can make a big splash, fast…beyond Edmonton!
October 8th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
I was wondering if you use questionnaires for assessing quality of life and work performance.
This is such a great system from a clinical point of view. I’ve used it for some time now in order to decide which patients need the most intervention.
October 8th, 2009 at 2:05 pm
Because excess weight on someone’s body is difficult or impossible to get off, it is important that doctors react IMMEDIATELY when a patient is at STAGE 1. At this stage prevention could save a person from slipping into more and more trouble.
If a patient in Stage 1 gets a follow-up appointment for 2 months later to make sure the patient has not gained weight or worsened in other parts of the assessment, the patient would know that this really is a significant health issue. The patient would be more motivated to be careful with diet and exercise, and to watch excess weight just as closely as high blood pressure or high blood sugar or any other indicator of a danger to health.
If a doctor says “watch your weight” but doesn’t make a follow-up appointment, the patient feels this is not very important to the doctor, and so it is not really much of a health problem.