According to the National Institutes of Health, obesity is characterized as an excessive or disproportionate amount of body fat. It is calculated by using a person's height and weight to determine the total body mass index. Often referred to as simply BMI, this numeric value places a person within five distinct statuses or classifications of weight, which includes underweight, normal, overweight, obese and morbidly obese.
BMI Equation
To help establish a rough estimate of a person's body mass index, there is a fairly simple equation which takes into account weight in lbs. and height in inches. The equation is BMI = (weight x 703) / (height x height).
While this equation can give you an idea of body mass index, it doesn't take into consideration muscle mass. Muscle weighs more than fat, so this can skew the number for more muscular individuals. To arrive at an exact BMI value, you'll need to talk to a doctor or fitness professional. They will take into account other factors to clarify your body mass index.
BMI Classifications
As mentioned before, the body mass index places you into one of five different statuses or classifications. The Mayo Clinic defines a BMI of 18.4 and below as underweight. A BMI of anywhere between 18.5 and 24.9 positions you in the healthy or normal category for your weight. People who are considered overweight have a BMI ranging from 25 to 29.9. When someone is obese, he has a BMI of 30 to 39.9. Morbidly obese is a body mass index of anything over 40.
Significance
Though the National Institutes of Health maintain that there are genetic links to obesity, most cases of excess weight are a combination of poor lifestyle habits. Two of the most prevalent are diet and exercise. Eating more calories than you burn each day inevitably causes weight gain. When you couple this with a sedentary lifestyle, your body burns even less calories, further compounding the issue. However, you may also gain weight that eventually leads to obesity due to other factors, including medical condition, prescription drugs and pregnancy.
Treatment
Treatment for both obesity and extreme obesity typically begin with a change in lifestyle, according to experts at the Mayo Clinic. People often need to change their diets as well as increase the level of activity to initiate weight loss. If additional help is necessary, a doctor may recommend moving to a medically supervised meal replacement program. This type of eating regimen usually reduces caloric intake well below the recommended level, prompting what is known as rapid weight loss. This is used in conjunction with exercise, behavioral therapy and even prescription medications. For some, it may be necessary to use a weight loss surgery to cause weight loss.
Warning
Both obesity and morbid obesity brings more than just excess weight. When your BMI is 30 and above, you are putting yourself at a great risk of developing serious medical condition. According to the Mayo Clinic, this would include diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, stroke, sleep apnea and even cancer of the uterus, prostate, colon, cervix, breast or rectum.
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