Defining Overweight and Obesity
Overweight
and obesity are both labels for ranges of weight that are greater than what is
generally considered healthy for a given height. The terms also identify ranges
of weight that have been shown to increase the likelihood of certain diseases
and other health problems.
Definitions for Adults
For adults,
overweight and obesity ranges are determined by using weight and height to
calculate a number called the "body mass index" (BMI). BMI is used
because, for most people, it correlates with their amount of body fat.
An adult who
has a BMI between 25 and 29.9 is considered overweight.
An adult who
has a BMI of 30 or higher is considered obese.
Assessing
Health Risks Associated with Overweight and Obesity
BMI is just
one indicator of potential health risks associated with being overweight or
obese. For assessing someone's likelihood of developing overweight- or
obesity-related diseases, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
guidelines recommend looking at two other predictors:
The
individual's waist circumference (because abdominal fat is a predictor of risk
for obesity-related diseases).
Other risk
factors the individual has for diseases and conditions associated with obesity
(for example, high blood pressure or physical inactivity).
CHECK HERE IF YOUR OVERWEIGHT OR OBESITY
