Obesity is a complex condition that raises serious health risks and can contribute to a lower quality of life.
The definition of obesity is simple: this is the condition of being overweight.
But in reality, obesity is simple and easy to treat and manage.
Obesity is a very complex condition that is not just a cosmetic concern – being overweight puts you at risk for many diseases and health problems.
Excessive body fat is associated with:
Type 2 diabetes
High blood pressure
Heart disease
Stroke
Some types of cancer
Worldwide, the rate of obesity doubled between 1980 and 2014, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
And the social and economic consequences of obesity – including health care costs, lost workplace potential, and low wages – are having a profound effect across the United States and around the world.
Obesity and BMI
Obesity is usually estimated using a body mass index, or BMI.
BMI takes into account a person’s height and weight and is expressed in kilograms / m2 (kilograms per square meter).
Adult BMI levels are rated.
Normal weight: 18.5 to 24.9
Overweight: 25 to 29.9
Obesity: 30 or more
Obesity is further classified as:
Class I obesity: BMI = 30 to 34.9
Class II obesity: BMI = 35 to 39.9
Class III obesity: BMI 40 or higher
Morbid Obesity
Some health organizations call people with a BMI of 40 or older “extremely obese.”
Moved obesity can also be defined as being over 100 pounds above your ideal weight, or having an obesity-related condition such as hypertension or a BMI of 35 or higher with type 2 diabetes.
Being obese puts people at greater risk of health problems than being slightly overweight or obese.
BMI Calculators
There are many online tools that can calculate your BMI.
Adults can use the BMI Calculator to determine their body mass index.
Children should use a different BMI calculator than adults. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides this BMI calculator for children ages 2 to 19.
Obesity and Pregnancy
Obesity can adversely affect fertility in both women and men.
In women, obesity is associated with ovulation.
In men, obesity is related to lower semen quality, reduced albido, and penis.
For obese women who are pregnant, obesity increases the risk of pregnancy complications such as:
Diabetes data
High blood pressure
Abortion
Preeclampsia (a serious complication of late pregnancy)
Abnormal labor, which often leads to cesarean section
Overweight or obese women have a higher risk of developing fetuses:
Before time
Slow birth
Congenital inequality (congenital defects)
Macrosomia (overgrowth)
Childhood obesity
Losing weight before pregnancy and losing weight during pregnancy can help reduce these risks.
Obesity in Children
The World Health Organization calls childhood obesity “the most serious public health challenge of the 21st century.”
Obesity not only lowers a child’s quality of life in childhood, but also overweight and obese children are more likely to remain obese in adolescence and develop obesity-related diseases such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease at an early age. Are
Although the global rate of obesity is difficult to determine for sure, an estimated 43 million children under the age of 5 were overweight or obese in 2010.
Of those 43 million, 35 million lived in developing countries.
In the United States, data collected in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) shows that childhood obesity rates have more than tripled in the last three decades:
In the 1970s, 5% of American children between the ages of 2 and 19 were obese.
As of 2008, about 17% of American children between the ages of 2 and 19 were obese.
Short-term health risks associated with childhood obesity include:
Cardiovascular risk factors
Urinary tract disease
Bone and joint problems
Lack of sleep
Social stigma
Poor self-esteem
Long-term risks include the risks associated with obesity in adults.
Learn more about the causes of obesity
Learn more about obesity treatment
Learn more about bariatric surgery
Learn more about the complications of obesity
Learn more about obesity in the United States