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The Facts About Obesity and Overweight

The most widely accepted definition of obesity is calculated with height and weight measurements called the Body Mass Index or BMI. A person with a body mass index exceeding 30 is considered obese, and someone with a BMI of 40 or more has morbid obesity. Morbid obesity refers to a dangerous condition in which the sufferer is at risk of physical disability and a severely impaired quality of life.



Unfortunately, the general public misunderstands much about obesity. Popular culture oversimplifies this complex topic into "you're fat because you eat too much." Such a simplistic explanation however, hardly explains why some individuals can eat what they want and never gain an ounce, while others constantly fight to keep their weight down. Weight gain occurs when our bodies consume more calories than they use. That's the simple explanation but the definition of obesity encompasses many factors.

This section is divided into multiple articles, covering:

• Definition of Obesity
• Causes of Obesity
• Medical Complications
• Preventing Obesity
• Childhood Obesity
• Fighting Childhood Obesity.

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