- body fat percentage greater than 25 percent for
men or 32 percent for women - WAIST CIRCUMFERENCEgreater than 40 inches for
men or 35 inches for women
Most people who have obesity meet all three of
these diagnostic markers. People who have signifi-
cantly increased MUSCLEmass, such as perform-
ance athletes and bodybuilders, may have a higher
BMI without having obesity.
Treatment Options and OutlookThe treatment for obesity is weight loss. Treatment
options include lifestyle modifications, BEHAVIOR
MODIFICATION THERAPY, medications to suppress
appetite, and BARIATRIC SURGERY. Many people
experience better results with a combination of
treatments; lifestyle modifications are essential for
sustained weight management, regardless of other
treatments. However, most people who have obe-
sity have tried many weight loss approaches with-
out success.
Noninvasive methods are more likely to suc-
ceed for people who have class 1 obesity. The US
National Institutes of Health (NIH) recommends
aggressive noninvasive treatment for people who
have class 2 obesity but who have not yet devel-
oped significant co-morbidities (health conditions
resulting from and intertwined with obesity). For
people who have class 2 obesity and two or more
comorbid conditions (such as hypertension and
diabetes) and for people who have class 3 obesity,
the NIH recommends bariatric surgery. Though
bariatric surgery entails significant risks, health
experts believe the benefits of extensive weight
loss that is possible outweigh the risks of the sur-
gery when body fat percentage exceeds 30 percent
(class 3 obesity).
The long-term success of treatment for obesity
requires ongoing and continuous management of
obesity’s numerous and often intertwined causes.
For some people weight management remains a
lifelong challenge and sometimes a struggle
though others are able to achieve and maintain
healthy weight.Risk Factors and Preventive Measures
The key risk factors for obesity are physical inac-
tivity and excessive food consumption. People
who are sedentary (get no physical exercise) are at
highest risk for obesity. Nutritious eating habits
and daily physical exercise are preventive as well
as therapeutic. To prevent obesity health experts
recommend- food (CALORIE) intake appropriate for age and
physical activity level - eating foods with high nutrient density, notably
fruits, vegetables, whole grains and whole grain
products, and low-fat proteins - minimizing consumption of high-fat foods
(such as fast foods and snack items) and empty
carbohydrates (such as sodas and sweets) - a minimum 30 minutes a day of moderate
physical exercise such as walking
Preventive efforts are most likely to succeed
when all members of the household participate in
them.
See also CHILDHOOD OBESITY; CULTURAL AND ETHNIC
HEALTH-CARE PERSPECTIVES; EATING DISORDERS; GENERA-
TIONAL HEALTH-CARE PERSPECTIVES; HEALTHY PEOPLE
2010 ; INSULIN RESISTANCE; LIFESTYLE AND HEALTH; OBE-
SITY AND HEALTH; PEER PRESSURE; SMOKING AND HEALTH;
WEIGHT LOSS AND WEIGHT MANAGEMENT.300 Lifestyle Variables: Smoking and Obesity
CLINICAL CLASSIFICATIONS OF OBESITYBody Mass Index (BMI) Clinical Classification Health Risk
30 to 34.9 class 1 moderate
35 to 39.9 class 2 serious
40 and above class 3 severe or morbid