Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos
obesity
Table of Contents
References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics
Images & Videos
Obesity body mass index for adults
How was the leptin protein in mice discovered and how has it benefited diabetes and obesity treatment in humans?
How has the study of rare conditions like lipodystrophy aided understanding of the genomic factors contributing to diabetes and obesity?
For Students
obesity summary
Quizzes
A Yorkshire terrier dressed up as a veterinarian or doctor on a white background. (dogs)
A Visit with the Word Doctor: Medical Vocabulary Quiz
3d illustration human heart. Adult Anatomy Aorta Black Blood Vessel Cardiovascular System Coronary Artery Coronary Sinus Front View Glowing Human Artery Human Heart Human Internal Organ Medical X-ray Myocardium
Medical Terms and Pioneers Quiz
Encyclopaedia Britannica thistle graphic to be used with a Mendel/Consumer quiz in place of a photograph.
44 Questions from Britannica’s Most Popular Health and Medicine Quizzes
Read Next
Measuring body fat with calipers. (BMI, body mass index, weight)
How Is BMI Calculated?
Marathon running in the light of evening
Olympics: The Genetics of Success
Hand washing. Healthcare worker washing hands in hospital sink under running water. contagious diseases wash hands, handwashing hygiene, virus, human health
17 Questions About Health and Wellness Answered
Discover
Illustration for Demystified "How Dangerous is Quicksand"
How Deadly Is Quicksand?
Shadow of a man holding large knife in his hand inside of some dark, spooky buiding
7 of History's Most Notorious Serial Killers
Figure 13: A Maxim machine gun, belt-fed and water-cooled, operated by German infantrymen, World War I.
7 Deadliest Weapons in History
Happy, smiling, flying pig
7 Everyday English Idioms and Where They Come From
Internet http://www blue screen. Hompepage blog 2009, history and society, media news television, crowd opinion protest, In the News 2009, breaking news
Who Invented the Internet?
Berries and leaves of the bittersweet nightshade (Solanum dulcamara) plant. Poisonous plant
7 of the World’s Deadliest Plants
Drinking water is poured into a glass.
Water Fluoridation: Just the Facts

obesity: Facts & Related Content

verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Share
Share to social media
URL
https://www.britannica.com/facts/obesity
Written and fact-checked by
The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

The Information Architects maintain a master list of the topics included in the corpus of  Encyclopædia Britannica, and create and manage the relationships between them.
The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

News •

Residual inflammation can linger in psoriasis patients despite skin treatment • May 20, 2025, 1:50 AM ET (News-Medical)
Link between ADHD and obesity might depend on where you live • May 16, 2025, 12:48 AM ET (Medical Xpress)
Black tea kombucha reduces harmful gut microbes linked to obesity • May 14, 2025, 7:00 PM ET (News-Medical)
Once-daily oral treatment shows positive results in first human study for obesity treatment • May 14, 2025, 4:07 AM ET (News-Medical)
Study reveals colonic inflammation as the trigger for beta cell growth in obesity • May 10, 2025, 6:16 AM ET (News-Medical)

Facts

Also Known As corpulence • fatness

Photos and Videos

Obesity
body mass index for adults
How was the leptin protein in mice discovered and how has it benefited diabetes and obesity treatment in humans?
How has the study of rare conditions like lipodystrophy aided understanding of the genomic factors contributing to diabetes and obesity?
See All Videos and Images →

Related Topics and References

Topics
Dig Deeper: More Articles That Discuss This Topic

Related Quizzes and Features

Quiz
A Yorkshire terrier dressed up as a veterinarian or doctor on a white background. (dogs)
A Visit with the Word Doctor: Medical Vocabulary Quiz
3d illustration human heart. Adult Anatomy Aorta Black Blood Vessel Cardiovascular System Coronary Artery Coronary Sinus Front View Glowing Human Artery Human Heart Human Internal Organ Medical X-ray Myocardium
Medical Terms and Pioneers Quiz
Encyclopaedia Britannica thistle graphic to be used with a Mendel/Consumer quiz in place of a photograph.
44 Questions from Britannica’s Most Popular Health and Medicine Quizzes