Obesity is a complex condition with many causes, including consuming a diet with high fats and sugars, doing limited physical activity, genetics, underlying health conditions and taking some types of medications. The term obese describes a person with excess body fat. Having obesity can also increase the risk of developing many other health conditions, like Type 2 Diabetes, heart disease, and some cancers. 1 in 4 adults and 1 in 5 children aged 10-11 in the UK are living with obesity, and this is estimated to increase.
Whether a person is obese can be determined by calculating a body mass index (BMI) score, and although this measure has some limitations, for example for people with high muscle mass, it is a useful indication for most people of whether they have a healthy weight. For those from an Asian, Chinese, Middle Eastern, Black African or African-Caribbean family background, a BMI of 27.5 or above indicates they are obese, and for others a BMI of 30 or over indicates they are obese. A weight to height ratio can also be calculated.
Obesity can be treated with lifestyle changes including eating a healthy, balanced diet and increasing physical activity, and medications and weight loss (bariatric) surgery can sometimes be used to treat severe obesity.
Key Links
Additional Resources
British Journal of Nursing, The nurse’s role in providing strategies and advice on weight management
Health Risks of Overweight & Obesity
WHO Obesity and Overweight Fact Sheet
