Obesity (Print Version)

Obesity means having too much body fat. It is different from being overweight, which means weighing too much. The weight may come from muscle, bone, fat and/or body water. Both terms mean that a person's weight is greater than what's considered healthy for his or her height.

Obesity occurs over time when you eat more calories than you use. The balance between calories-in and calories-out differs for each person. Factors that might tip the balance include your genetic makeup, overeating, eating high-fat foods and not being physically active.

Being obese increases your risk of diabetes, heart disease, stroke, arthritis and some cancers. If you are obese, losing even 5 to 10 percent of your weight can delay or prevent some of these diseases.

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Start Here

Overweight and Obesity(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) - http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/obe/obe_whatare.html
Also available in Spanish http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dcisp/Diseases/obe/obe_whatare.html
Understanding Adult Obesity(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/understanding.htm
What You Should Know Before You Start a Weight Loss Plan(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/healthy/food/improve/788.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/healthy/food/improve/788.printerview.html

Overviews

Obesity and Weight Loss(National Women's Health Information Center) - http://womenshealth.gov/faq/weightloss.htm
Overweight and Obesity(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/obesity/

Latest News

Overeating Can Throw off Metabolism(10/02/2008, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_69995.html
Gene Could Link Obesity, Colon Cancer(10/01/2008, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_69888.html
Obesity Linked to Poorer Asthma Treatment Response(10/01/2008, Reuters Health) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_69910.html
Low Levels of Brain Chemical May Lead to Obesity, NIH Study of Rare Disorder Shows(08/27/2008, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) - http://www.nih.gov/news/health/aug2008/nichd-27a.htm
Obesity in US Adults, BRFSS, 2007(07/23/2008, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/Features/dsObesity/
Latest CDC Data Show More Americans Report Being Obese(07/17/2008, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/media/pressrel/2008/r080717.htm
More News on Obesity http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/alphanews_o.html#obesity

Diagnosis/Symptoms

Aim for a Healthy Weight: Assessing Your Risk(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) - http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/obesity/lose_wt/risk.htm
Body Mass Index Chart(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) - http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/obesity/bmi_tbl.htm

Treatment

MedlinePlus: Weight Loss Surgery(National Library of Medicine) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/weightlosssurgery.html
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/weightlosssurgery.html
Prescription Medications for the Treatment of Obesity(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/prescription.htm
Very Low-Calorie Diets(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/low_calorie.htm

Prevention/Screening

Key to Nutrition: A Diversified Portfolio(Dept. of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health) - http://www.omhrc.gov/templates/content.aspx?ID=4081&lvl=3&lvlID=287
Physical Activity and Good Nutrition: Essential Elements to Prevent Chronic Diseases and Obesity(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/publications/aag/dnpa.htm
What Is Energy Balance?(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) - http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/obesity/wecan/learn-it/balance.htm

Related Issues

Active at Any Size(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/active.htm
Do You Know the Health Risks of Being Overweight?(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/health_risks.htm
Medical Care for Obese Patients(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/medical.htm
Obesity and Cancer: Questions and Answers(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/obesity
Also available in Spanish http://www.cancer.gov/espanol/cancer/hojas-informativas/obesidad-respuestas
Obesity and the Environment(National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences) - Links to PDF - http://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/scied/documents/Fact%20Sht%20Obesity%202005%20final.pdf
Overweight and Obesity: Contributing Factors(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/obesity/contributing_factors.htm
Royal Route to Obesity(National Sleep Foundation) - http://www.sleepfoundation.org/site/c.huIXKjM0IxF/b.2464479/apps/nl/content3.asp?content_id={B7D3796D-8E78-43BB-874E-51572F2CC97B}¬oc=1
Sex Differences in Obesity(Society for Women's Health Research) - http://swhr.convio.net/site/PageServer?pagename=hs_facts_obesity
What You Should Know Before You Start a Weight Loss Plan(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/healthy/food/improve/788.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/healthy/food/improve/788.printerview.html

Health Check Tools

Calculate Your Body Mass Index(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) - http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/
Also available in Spanish http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/sp_bmi-m.htm

Clinical Trials

ClinicalTrials.gov: Obesity(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Obesity%22

Genetics

Genetics Home Reference: Cohen syndrome(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=cohensyndrome
Obesity & Genetics(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/Features/Obesity/
Also available in Spanish http://www.cdc.gov/spanish/especialesCDC/obesidad/

Research

New NIH-Supported Study Characterizes Social Networks of Family, Friends Influencing Obesity(National Institute on Aging) - http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/jul2007/nia-25.htm
New Study Shows That Being Overweight at Middle Age Can Be Harmful(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/newscenter/pressreleases/BMImortality
Overweight, Obese Women Improve Quality of Life with 10 to 30 Minutes of Exercise(American Heart Association) - http://americanheart.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=364

Journal Articles

References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

Article: Blood pressure control in patients with comorbidities. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18772645&tool=MedlinePlus
Article: An evidence-based review of the use of therapeutic foods, owner... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18764704&tool=MedlinePlus
Article: Decrease your cancer risk with weight control and lifestyle changes.... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18727182&tool=MedlinePlus
Obesity -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=obesity[majr:noexp]+AND+english[la]+AND+(humans[mh]+NOT+child[mh])+AND+(jsubsetk[text]+OR+clinical+trial[pt]+OR+review[pt]+OR+guideline[pt]+OR+patient+education+handout[pt]+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt]+OR+case+reports[pt]))&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
Morbid obesity -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=obesity,morbid[majr]+NOT+(bariatric+surgery[majr]+OR+anastomosis,roux-en-y[majr]+OR+biliopancreatic+diversion[majr])+AND+english[la]+AND+humans[mh]+AND+(jsubsetk[text]+OR+review[pt]+OR+guideline[pt]+OR+patient+education+handout[pt]+OR+clinical+trial[pt]+OR+jsubsetaim[text]+OR+jsubsetn[text])+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus

Dictionaries/Glossaries

Obesity, Physical Activity, and Weight-Control Glossary(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/glossary.htm

Directories

American Society of Bariatric Physicians: Locate a Physician(American Society of Bariatric Physicians) - http://www.asbp.org/locate_physician.php
Find a Nutrition Professional(American Dietetic Association) - http://www.eatright.org/cps/rde/xchg/ada/hs.xsl/home_4874_ENU_HTML.htm

Organizations

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute - http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases - http://www.niddk.nih.gov/
Weight-Control Information Network(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://win.niddk.nih.gov/

Newsletters/Print Publications

WIN Notes(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://win.niddk.nih.gov/notes/

Statistics

FASTATS: Overweight(National Center for Health Statistics) - http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/overwt.htm
Overweight and Obesity: Obesity Trends: U.S. Obesity Trends 1985 - 2006(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/obesity/trend/maps/
Preventing Obesity and Chronic Diseases through Good Nutrition and Physical Activity(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/publications/factsheets/Prevention/obesity.htm
Statistics Related to Overweight and Obesity(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://win.niddk.nih.gov/statistics/

Children

MedlinePlus: Obesity in Children(National Library of Medicine) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/obesityinchildren.html
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/obesityinchildren.html

Men

Belly Fat in Men: What You Need to Know(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/belly-fat/MC00054/METHOD=print

You may also be interested in these MedlinePlus related pages:

Weight Control - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/weightcontrol.html
Weight Loss Surgery - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/weightlosssurgery.html
Food and Nutrition - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/foodandnutrition.html
Metabolic Problems - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/metabolicproblems.html

The primary NIH organization for research on Obesity is the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases - http://www.niddk.nih.gov/

Obesity - Multiple Languages - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/languages/obesity.html