Over 30% of American adults and 15% of children are considered to be obese
So what is obesity? It is a chronic condition that causes people to gain excessive weight in the form of fatty tissue. Obesity can cause more than 30 serious health conditions from Type II diabetes to congestive heart failure.
Too much food and infrequent mobility are the two biggest causes of obesity. Genetics can contribute to obesity if a person has a family history of excessive weight gain.
The simplest way to determine if you are obese is to check your BMI: Body Mass Index. You will need to know your height in inches and weight in pounds. Multiply your weight in pounds by 703 and square your height in inches. Divide the first number by the second and the resulting number is your BMI. The higher your BMI, the higher your percentage of body fat.
Less than 18.5 – Underweight
18.5 and 24.9 – Normal weight
25 and 29.9 – Overweight
30 or higher – Obese
Excessive muscle mass, elderly age or other medical conditions can affect an obesity reading. A doctor’s assessment is the best way to determine if you are obese.
To learn more, watch BMI and Obesity.
