Obesity

Summary

Obesity means having too much body fat. It is different from being overweight, which means weighing too much. The weight may come from muscle, bone, fat, and/or body water. Both terms mean that a person’s weight is greater than what’s considered healthy for his or her height.

Obesity happens over time when you eat more calories than you use. The balance between calories-in and calories-out differs for each person. Factors that might affect your weight include your genetic makeup, overeating, eating high-fat foods, and not being physically active.

Obesity increases your risk of diabetes, heart disease, stroke, arthritis, and some cancers. If you have obesity, losing even 5 to 10% of your weight can delay or prevent some of these diseases. For example, that means losing 10 to 20 pounds if you weigh 200 pounds.

NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Statistics and Research

• Adult Obesity Prevalence Maps Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Cancer and Obesity Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Diabetes Interactive Atlas Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Overweight and Obesity Statistics National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Prevention and Risk Factors

• Aim For a Healthy Weight National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
• Balance Food and Activity National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Diagnosis and Tests

• Assessing Your Weight and Health Risk National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
• Body Mass Index Table National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
• Obesity Screening National Library of Medicine
• Screening for and Management of Obesity in Adults U.S. Preventive Services Task Force

Men

• Belly Fat in Men: Why Weight Loss Matters Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research

Women

• Belly Fat in Women: Taking — and Keeping — It off Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Pregnancy and Obesity: Know the Risks Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research

Patient Handouts

• Body mass index Medical Encyclopedia
• Health risks of obesity Medical Encyclopedia
• Obesity Medical Encyclopedia
• Obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS) Medical Encyclopedia

Health Check Tools

• Calculate Your Body Mass Index National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Obesity National Institutes of Health

Genetics

• Congenital leptin deficiency: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Leptin receptor deficiency: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Proopiomelanocortin deficiency: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine

Teenagers

• Dealing With Feelings When You’re Overweight (For Teens) Nemours Foundation

Start Here

• Defining Adult Overweight & Obesity Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Healthy Weight Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health
• Obesity Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• What Are Overweight and Obesity? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Related Issues

• Disability and Obesity Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Obesity American Society of Anesthesiologists
• Obesity Endocrine Society
• Obesity and Cancer National Cancer Institute
• Obesity and Your Digestive Health American College of Gastroenterology
• Staying Active at Any Size National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Find an Expert

• Find a Nutrition Expert Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
• Find an Obesity Medicine Clinician Obesity Medicine Association
• National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
• National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Specifics

• Health Risks of Overweight and Obesity National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
• Obesity American Psychological Association
• Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
• Understanding Adult Overweight and Obesity National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
• Weight Management and Healthy Living Tips National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Children

• Obesity in Children: MedlinePlus Health Topic National Library of Medicine

Journal Articles

• Obesity

Treatments and Therapies

• Weight Control: MedlinePlus Health Topic National Library of Medicine
• Weight Loss Surgery: MedlinePlus Health Topic National Library of Medicine