<unk>  is a condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to such an extent that it may have a negative effect on health. People are classified as obese when their body mass index (BMI)—a measurement obtained by dividing a person's weight by the square of the person's height (despite known allometric inaccuracies)—is over ; the range is defined as overweight. Some East Asian countries use lower values to calculate<unk> .<unk>  is a major cause of disability and is correlated with various diseases and conditions, particularly cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, certain types of cancer, and osteoarthritis. High BMI is a marker of risk for, but not a direct cause of, diseases caused by diet and physical activity. A reciprocal link has been found between<unk>  and depression, with<unk>  increasing the risk of clinical depression and also depression leading to a higher chance of developing<unk> .<unk>  has individual, socioeconomic, and environmental causes. Some of the known causes are diet, physical activity, automation, urbanization, genetic susceptibility, medications, mental disorders, economic policies, endocrine disorders, and exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals. Epidemiologic studies of overweight and<unk>  in children and adults covering 195 countries have shown that the prevalence of<unk>  has steadily increased in most countries, doubling in 73 countries over the 25 years from 1980 to 2015. As of 2015, the United States and China had the largest numbers of obese adults, and China and India had the largest numbers of obese children. By 2018, 42% of Americans were obese. While a majority of obese individuals at any given time are attempting to lose weight and are often successful, research shows that maintaining that weight loss over the long term proves to be rare. The reasons for weight cycling are not fully understood but may include decreased energy expenditure combined with an increased biological urge to eat during and after caloric restriction. More studies are needed to determine if weight cycling and yo-yo dieting contribute to inflammation and disease risk in obese individuals. Although there is no effective, well-defined, evidence-based intervention for preventing<unk> ,<unk>  prevention will require a complex approach, including interventions at community, family, and individual levels. Changes to diet and exercising are the main treatments recommended by health professionals. Diet quality can be improved by reducing the consumption of energy-dense foods, such as those high in fat or sugars, and by increasing the intake of dietary fiber. However, large-scale analyses have found an inverse relationship between energy density and energy cost of foods in developed nations. Medications can be used, along with a suitable diet, to reduce appetite or decrease fat absorption. If diet, exercise, and medication are not effective, a gastric balloon or surgery may be performed to reduce stomach volume or length of the intestines, leading to feeling full earlier or a reduced ability to absorb nutrients from food.<unk>  is a leading preventable cause of death worldwide, with increasing rates in adults and children. In 2015, 600 million adults (12%) and 100 million children were obese in 195 countries.<unk>  is more common in women than in men. Public health officials view it as one of the most serious public health problems of the 21st century. Today,<unk>  is stigmatized in most of the world (particularly in the Western world). Conversely some cultures past and present have a favorable view of<unk>  seeing it as a symbol of wealth and fertility. Nevertheless, in 2013, several medical societies, including the American Medical Association and the American Heart Association, classified<unk>  as a disease.
Obesity
Heart failure
Body mass index
Metabolic syndrome
Abdominal obesity
Family history 
Dry sex
Smoking