What Is Obesity?

Obesity is not just being overweight, it also puts your health at risk. The risk increases sharply as your obesity becomes more severe. It often leads to other significant medical problems or co-morbidities.

Today, approximately 36%* of American adults and 17%* of children and adolescents are obese.

*Twice the number of Americans who were obese just three decades ago.

What is obesity?

The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery defines obesity as a disease in which fat has accumulated to the extent that health is impaired.  There are a variety of factors that play a role in obesity. Behavior, environment, and genetic factors may have an effect in causing people to be overweight and obese.

• Overweight and obesity result from an energy imbalance. This involves eating too many calories and not getting enough physical activity.
• Body weight is the result of genes, metabolism, behavior, psychological factors, environment, culture, and socioeconomic status.

What is BMI?

Obesity is commonly measured by the body mass index (BMI), which is an approximate measure of body fat based on your height and weight. An adult with a BMI of 30 or more is considered obese. It is important to remember that as a person’s BMI goes higher, this also increases the risk for diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, and certain cancers.

BMI Calculator

What are the risks of obesity?

Because the more weight the average person carries and the longer the person carries that excess weight, the higher the risks of significant medical problems called co-morbidities develop. Medical co-morbidities related to being overweight/obese include:

• Diabetes
• High Cholesterol / Triglycerides
• Sleep Apnea
• Asthma
• High Blood Pressure
• Heart Disease
• Arthritis
• Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease