The Obesity Epidemic

Obesity is Associated with Serious Health Consequences

Obesity represents a state of excess storage of body fat and has recently been declared a disease by the American Medical Association. Although several classifications and definitions for degrees of obesity are accepted, the most widely accepted classifications are those from the World Health Organization (WHO), based on Body Mass Indix (BMI).

The WHO designations include the following:

• Grade 1 overweight (commonly and simply called overweight) - BMI of 25-29.9 kg/m²
• Grade 2 overweight (commonly called obesity) - BMI of 30-39.9 kg/m²
• Grade 3 overweight (commonly called severe or morbid obesity) - BMI greater than or equal to 40 kg/m²

Costs of Obesity

Obesity Links and Information

References

1. Y. Claire Wang, John Pamplin, Michael W. Long, Zachary J. Ward, Steven L. Gortmaker and Tatiana Andreyeva. Severe Obesity In Adults Cost State Medicaid Programs Nearly $8 Billion In 2013, Health Affairs, 34, no.11 (2015).
2. Cynthia L. Ogden, Ph.D.; Margaret D. Carroll, M.S.P.H.; Cheryl D. Fryar, M.S.P.H.; and Katherine M. Flegal, Ph.D., Prevalence of Obesity Among Adults and Youth: United States, 2011–2014, NCHS Data Brief, No. 219, November 2015.