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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staffObesity is defined as having an excessive amount of body fat. Obesity is more than just a cosmetic concern, though. It increases your risk of diseases and health problems such as heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure.
Doctors often use a formula based on your height and weight — called the body mass index (BMI) — to determine if you are obese.
| BMI | Weight status |
|---|---|
| Below 18.5 | Underweight |
| 18.5 — 24.9 | Normal |
| 25.0 — 29.9 | Overweight |
| 30.0 and higher | Obese |
| 40.0 and higher | Extreme obesity |
Being extremely obese means you are especially likely to have health problems related to your weight.
The good news is that even modest weight loss can improve or prevent the health problems associated with obesity.
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- Meridia (sibutramine): Market withdrawal due to risk of serious cardiovascular events. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/SafetyAlertsforHumanMedicalProducts/ucm228830.htm. Accessed Oct. 8, 2010.
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- Completed safety review: Xenical/Alli (Orlistat) and severe liver injury. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/PostmarketDrugSafetyInformationforPatientsandProviders/ucm213038.htm. Accessed Feb. 16, 2011.
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