Obesity

Obesity is the medical condition of being overweight with a Body-Mass Index (BMI) more than 30. Obesity is a common condition, and is related to a number of diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure.

The diagnosis of obesity is made by the following formula:

BMI = [Weight (pounds) / Height (inches)] x 703

Normal values for BMI are between 18.5 and 25. Patients with BMI values between 25 and 30 are considered overweight. A BMI > 30 is considered obese.

Treatment for obesity includes decreasing calorie intake and increasing exercise activity. Obesity increases the likelihood that a person has complications of medical conditions or dies prematurely while reducing body weight can improve overall health.