What is body mass index (BMI)?

BMI is a measure of fat in the body.  It is based on your height and weight.  BMI will help you know if you are underweight, at a healthy weight, overweight, or obese.  BMI is defined as your weight in kilograms divided by your height in meters squared.  The index is used for both men and women.

What is obesity?

If you have a BMI of 25 to 29.9, you are considered overweight.  If you have a BMI greater than 30, you are considered obese.  (Note: if you work out a lot and are very muscular, you may have a high BMI but may actually not be overweight or obese.)  Obesity is a disease that requires a lifetime of prevention, treatment, and maintenance.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately one-third of U.S. adults (33.8%) and 12.5 million children and adolescents aged 2-19 years (17%) are obese.

What causes obesity?

There is no single cause of obesity.  It is caused by a combination of factors such as the genes you inherit, your personality, your eating habits, how active you are, the influence of your family and friends, and how you handle stress. 

Why are health care providers concerned about obesity?

Studies have shown that men and women who are obese as adults tend to not live as long as people who weigh less. Obesity also increases your risk for a number of chronic (i.e. long-term) diseases.  These include diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, gout, heart disease, stroke, dementia, gastro-esophageal reflex disorder, osteoarthritis, cancer, kidney disease, urine leakage and depression.  Other reports have found that patients who are overweight and obese spend more money because of disability and health care costs than patients with lower weight. 

What is a healthy approach to weight loss?

Changing the way you approach weight loss can help you be more successful in the long run. Most people focus only on their overall goal to lose weight. However, setting goals to make changes in your lifestyle can be much more effective.  Goals to consider include: following a healthy eating plan, watching portion sizes, decreasing the amount of time you spend sitting, increasing your physical activity, reducing stress, and getting enough sleep.