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
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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
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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
- 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/
- 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
- 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
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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
- 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
- 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
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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
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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
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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
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Obesity(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Obesity%22
- Genetics Home Reference: Cohen syndrome(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=cohensyndrome
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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/
- 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
- 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
- Obesity, Physical Activity, and Weight-Control Glossary(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/glossary.htm
- 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
- 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/
- WIN Notes(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://win.niddk.nih.gov/notes/
- 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/
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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
- 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
- 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