Obesity is characterized by having an excessive amount of body fat. More specifically, it refers to having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher. BMI is calculated based on your weight and height.
To calculate your BMI: - Take your weight in pounds - Divide by your height in inches squared - Multiply by 703
So if someone weighs 200 pounds and is 5' 10'' (70 inches) tall, their BMI would be:
200 / (70 x 70) x 703 = 28.3
In this example, a BMI under 30 would not be considered obese.
Obesity happens when a person consumes more calories than they burn off over time. If those excess calories aren't burned through activity, they accumulate as body fat.
Some key facts about obesity:
Losing just 5-10% of your body weight can have major health benefits if you're obese. Even a small amount of weight loss can reduce symptoms and lower disease risk factors.
Here are some helpful tips for losing weight if you're obese:
I hope this gives you a helpful overview on defining and understanding obesity! Let me know if you have any other questions.