Who is obese

These changes also reduce calorie needs and can make it harder to keep off excess weight. If you don't consciously control what you eat and become more physically active as you age, you'll likely gain weight. Even if you have one or more of these risk factors, it doesn't mean that you're destined to develop obesity. You can counteract most risk factors through diet, physical activity and exercise, and behavior changes.

People with obesity are more likely to develop a number of potentially serious health problems, including:. Obesity can diminish the overall quality of life. You may not be able to do physical activities that you used to enjoy.

You may avoid public places. People with obesity may even encounter discrimination. Obesity care at Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version.

This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Obesity is a complex disease involving an excessive amount of body fat. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Overweight and obesity. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Accessed May 3, Goldman L, et al.

In: Goldman-Cecil Medicine. Elsevier; Kellerman RD, et al. Obesity in adults. In: Conn's Current Therapy On a personal level, you can help prevent weight gain and obesity by making healthier lifestyle choices:.

Obesity can affect nearly every system in your body, from your brain to your lungs and your liver. This infographic explains the long-term effects of…. Discover facts and statistics about obesity in America.

Saying that obesity is only a matter of willpower is nonsense. There are many factors involved, both internal and external, that affect our eating…. Obesity is a growing epidemic affecting both children and adults. Researchers and the medical community at large are looking for ways to prevent….

Treating obesity is complex. It involves a combination of lifestyle changes and sometimes, prescription medications or surgery. Find out which methods…. Obesity is a condition in which you have too much body fat for your height. Morbid obesity is when the excess body fat becomes a danger to your…. Even though poor diet and inactivity can lead to obesity, it's not always that simple. Here are 9 reasons why obesity is not just an individual choice. Gastric sleeve and gastric bypass are two types of bariatric surgery.

They have similarities and differences. They also have pros and cons. Learn more…. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect.

Medically reviewed by Alana Biggers, M. How is obesity classified? BMI Class What is childhood obesity? What causes obesity? Who is at risk for obesity? How is obesity diagnosed? What are the complications of obesity? How is obesity treated? Which lifestyle and behavioral changes can help with weight loss?

Some risk factors, like age, race, or family history can't be changed. The more risk factors you have, the more likely it is that you will develop the disease or health problem. Your risk of developing health problems such as heart disease, stroke, and kidney problems increases if you're obese and have these risk factors:. You can control many of these risk factors by changing your lifestyle. If you have obesity, your health care provider can help you begin a weight-loss program.

Jensen MD. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; chap Ramu A, Neild P. Diet and nutrition. Medical Sciences. In: Harward MP, ed. Medical Secrets. Updated by: David C.