Defining Overweight and Obesity
Overweight and obesity are both labels for ranges of weight that are greater than what is generally considered healthy for a given height. The terms also identify ranges of weight that have been shown to increase the likelihood of certain diseases and other health problems.
Definitions for Adults
For adults, overweight and obesity ranges are determined by using weight and height to calculate a number called the “body mass index” (BMI). BMI is used because, for most people, it correlates with their amount of body fat.
An adult who has a BMI between 25 and 29.9 is considered overweight.
An adult who has a BMI of 30 or higher is considered obese.
To calculate your body mass index, use the following links.
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/obesity/bmi_tbl.htm
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/obesity/bmi_tbl2.htm
Onramp to Health 