Obesity

Definition:

Obesity is a medical condition where someone has an unhealthy amount of body fat. This can cause a number of health problems, including heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and some types of cancer. ^[1]

Clinicians usually use a measurement called body mass index (BMI)—a calculation based on your height and weight—to diagnose obesity. A BMI of 30 or higher is generally considered obese. BMI isn’t perfect though, and might be inaccurate for some people. Some very muscular people, for example, might have an obese BMI.

There are many causes of obesity, including genetics, diet, and exercise habits. People who regularly eat more calories than they burn are more likely to develop obesity.