Published on: 7/25/2025
What is the medical definition of obesity?
Obesity is a medical condition where a person has too much body fat, which can lead to health problems.
Explanation
Obesity is when someone has a lot of extra body fat that can make them sick. According to the medical literature, it is often measured using the Body Mass Index (BMI), which is a number calculated from a person's weight and height.
- BMI Categories:
- A BMI of 25 to 29.9 is considered overweight.
- A BMI of 30 or higher is considered obese.
In addition to BMI, doctors may look at other factors like waist size and overall health to decide if someone is obese. Obesity can increase the risk of diseases like diabetes, heart problems, and some cancers. Understanding and managing obesity is important for staying healthy.
(References)
- Apovian CM. (2016). Obesity: definition, comorbidities, causes, and burden. The American journal of managed care, 27356115.
- Rubino F, Cummings DE, Eckel RH, Cohen RV, Wilding JPH, Brown WA, et al. (2025). Definition and diagnostic criteria of clinical obesity. The lancet. Diabetes & endocrinology, 39824205.
- Pi-Sunyer FX. (2000). Obesity: criteria and classification. The Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 11115784.
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