Overweight

Our bodies need fat to work.

It keeps us warm. It also helps us move. Sometimes a person has too much fat. This is called being overweight.

This can happen if we eat more than we use. Moving might feel harder too. Some people are just naturally heavier.

Many adults around the world are overweight.

Doctors use a special way to check weight. They look at how tall a person is. This helps them see if the weight is healthy. This is more helpful than just using a scale.

People can stay healthy by eating well. They can also exercise more. Some people join groups to help them. This helps them feel good about themselves.

It is good to take care of our bodies. We can eat fruits and vegetables. We can also play and move every day.

Our bodies need fat to work well. It keeps us warm. It also protects our parts from bumps.

However, having too much fat is called being overweight. This can make it harder to move or be flexible.

Doctors often use the body mass index, or BMI. BMI is a way to check weight. It looks at weight and height together. To find BMI, you divide weight by height squared.

Many adults in the world are overweight. In 2013, more than 2 billion adults were overweight or obese.

Being overweight often happens if people eat more than they use. A person might also not move enough. Other things like sleep or genes can help cause it. To help, many people change their diet or exercise more. Some use medicine or join support groups. These steps help people stay healthy and feel good.

Being overweight means having more body fat than is considered healthy. Our bodies actually need some fat to work well. It helps our hormones, our immune systems, and our reproductive systems. Fat also acts like a warm blanket for insulation. It works like a cushion to absorb shocks for sensitive areas. It even stores energy for us to use later. However, having too much stored fat can make it hard to move or be flexible.

Doctors use a special tool called the Body Mass Index, or BMI, to measure this. To find a BMI, you take a person's weight and divide it by their height squared. A BMI between 25.0 and 29.9 is called overweight. If the BMI is 30.0 or higher, it is called obesity. There are other ways to measure fat, too. Some people use skinfold calipers to pinch the skin. Others use a machine called a DEXA to look at body density.

Scientists and groups like the World Health Organization (WHO) study these numbers. In 2013, more than 2 billion adults were considered overweight or obese. By 2016, the WHO estimated nearly 2 billion adults were overweight. These numbers have gone up across all age groups. Different groups of people have different rules for BMI. For example, the NIH says whites, Hispanics, and blacks are overweight at a BMI of 25. For Asians, the overweight range starts earlier at a BMI of 23.

Being overweight often happens for many reasons. It usually occurs when a person eats more calories than their body uses. This can happen if someone does not get enough physical exercise. Other things can play a part, like how much sleep a person gets. Even genes or certain medicines can affect weight. Some people also deal with stress or eating disorders. Because of this, doctors suggest different ways to help. These include changing a diet or finding new ways to be active.

Helping people manage their weight can involve many different steps. Some people work with dietitians to eat balanced meals. Others might join support groups like Overeaters Anonymous. Some doctors even use weight loss drugs called GLP-1 receptor agonists. It is important to remember that everyone is different. Some people are naturally heavier, and the body positivity movement helps people feel confident. Even though there are health risks, some studies show that being mildly overweight might not always be bad for everyone.

Being overweight is defined as having more body fat than is considered healthy. While fat is necessary for the body to function, having too much stored fat can cause issues. Fat provides thermal insulation to keep us warm. It also acts as shock absorption for sensitive body parts. Additionally, fat supports the hormonal, reproductive, and immune systems. It even stores energy for future use. However, excessive fat accumulation can impair a person's movement and flexibility.

To track weight, researchers often use the Body Mass Index, or BMI. This is a calculation where a person's weight in kilograms is divided by the square of their height in meters. The results are written as kg/m2, though the units are usually left out. A BMI between 25.0 and 29.9 is classified as overweight. This range is sometimes called pre-obesity. If the BMI reaches 30.0 or higher, the person is classified as obese. BMI is a common tool because it is more accurate than simple weighing. However, it does not perfectly measure body fat percentage or mass. It may not account for factors like pregnancy or bodybuilding.

Scientists use several other methods to measure adiposity, which is the amount of fat in the body. One method is skinfold calipers, which involve a professional pinching the skin at specific points. This measures the thickness of fat layers just under the skin. Another method is bioelectrical impedance analysis. This passes a small electric current through the body. Because fat and muscle conduct electricity differently, this can estimate body fat percentage. Hydrostatic weighing is another highly accurate method. It involves submerging a person in water to compare their weight in water to their "dry weight." This helps determine body density, as fat is less dense than muscle.

Advanced technology allows for even more precise measurements. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, or DEXA, uses density to identify fat in different body tissues. It was originally made to measure bone density. Another modern tool is the Body Volume Index, or BVI. Created in 2000, BVI uses 3D software to create an accurate image of a person. Unlike BMI, BVI can differentiate between different body shapes. It focuses on where weight is located, specifically looking at central obesity around the abdomen. This is important because abdominal fat is linked to greater health risks.

Weight classifications can change based on a person's ethnicity. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the NIH use a BMI of 25 for whites, Hispanics, and blacks. However, for Asians, the overweight range starts at a BMI of 23. These definitions help medical professionals assess risks accurately. Globally, the number of people in these categories is rising. In 2013, more than 2 billion adults were considered overweight or obese. By 2016, the WHO estimated nearly 2 billion adults were overweight. These increases are being observed across all age groups.

Being overweight can lead to various health challenges. It directly increases the risk of type-II diabetes. It is also identified as a risk factor for certain cancers. In men, it can increase the risk of oligospermia and azoospermia. Mental health is also a factor. Overweight individuals may face social discrimination. This can lead to risks for depression, panic disorder, or bipolar disorder. Interestingly, some research suggests different outcomes for certain groups. A 2016 review suggested a 7% increase in death risk for a BMI of 25 to 27.5. However, other researchers, like Katherine Flegal, found that mortality might actually be lower for those in the overweight category compared to the "ideal" weight range. In older populations, such as 70 to 75-year-old Australians, mortality was lowest among those classified as overweight.

Weight changes usually happen due to an imbalance of energy. This occurs when a person takes in more calories through eating than they expend through activity. Many factors can contribute to this, such as genetic predisposition or hormonal imbalances like hypothyroidism. A sedentary lifestyle and poor nutrition are also common causes. Other factors include insufficient sleep, stress, or certain medications like olanzapine. Even metabolic disorders caused by "weight cycling" can play a role. To manage weight, doctors often suggest diet and exercise. Dietitians may recommend balanced meals throughout the day. Some people also use support groups like Overeaters Anonymous or medical treatments like GLP-1 receptor agonists.