Obesity is defined as weighing 20% (25% for women) or more over the maximum weight desirable for one's height. Experts believe that a person's body mass index (BMI) is the most accurate measurement of body fat. The BMI formula is weight (in kilograms [kg]) divided by height (in meters squared [m2]). Obesity in adults is having a body mass index of more that 30 kg/m2. Body mass index is used to determine whether a person is overweight, obese, or morbidly obese.
Obesity is the accumulation of excess body fat defined as weighing 20% (25% for women) or more over the recommended body weight for one's height. Obesity is determined by the body mass index (BMI). The BMI formula is weight (in kilograms [kg]) divided by height (in meters squared [m2]), and is the formula used to determine whether a person is overweight, obese, or morbidly obese. Overweight is defined as a BMI of 25 to 29.9; obesity as a BMI of 30 to 39.9; and morbid obesity as a BMI of 40 or more.
Obesity is quite common and has been described by some researchers as an epidemic in the United States. Between 1980 and 1999, the estimated number of overweight people in the United States rose from 47% to 61%, and the number of obese people rose from 15% to 26%. Obesity is equally common among white and black men and slightly more common among Hispanic men. In contrast, obesity is more common among black and Hispanic women than among white women. Childhood obesity is also an increasing problem.
Risk factors for gaining weight and becoming obese include consuming more calories than the body uses, having a family history of obesity, being inactive, eating a high-fat diet, and consuming alcohol. Prescription drugs, smoking cessation, hormonal changes, and psychological factors can also contribute to obesity.
Most obese children eat too much and exercise too little, leading to excess fat. Complications of childhood obesity include high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes. In addition, childhood obesity can lead to the development of extra fat cells, which can contribute to obesity persisting in adulthood.
Complications of chronic adult obesity include osteoarthritis, difficulty breathing, heart failure, certain cancers, stroke, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and premature death.
