Medical Encyclopedia: Overweight (Print Version)

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Medical Encyclopedia: Overweight

URL of this page: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003101.htm

Definition

Nearly two-thirds of the United States population is overweight. There are many ways to determine if a person is overweight, but experts believe that a person's body mass index (BMI) is the most accurate measurement of body fat for children and adults.

Adults with a BMI between 25 and 29.9 are considered overweight. There are exceptions. For example, an athlete may have a higher BMI but not be overweight.
Adults with a BMI greater than 30 are considered obese.
Anyone more than 100 pounds overweight is considered morbidly obese.

For more detailed information see: Obesity

Related topics:

Exercise and weight loss
Losing weight
Unintentional weight gain
Weight management
Weight problems and children

Update Date: 7/25/2007

Updated by: A.D.A.M. Editorial Team: Greg Juhn, M.T.P.W., David R. Eltz, Kelli A. Stacy. Previously reviewed by Charlotte Grayson, MD, Private Practice specializing in Internal Medicine, Smyrna, GA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network (5/3/2006).

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