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Obesity is a medical classification regarding an extreme level of excessive body weight. It is a more serious classification on the Body Mass Index (BMI) scale than the overweight classification is. From a medical perspective, an obese person has accumulated enough body fat that it can negatively impact health.

If an adult's weight is at least 20% higher than his ideal weight (which is based upon the person's height), he is generally considered obese. An adult with a Body Mass Index (BMI) between 25 and 29.9 is considered overweight. A BMI is 30 or over is considered obese.[1]

Because ideal weights vary by age and gender, childhood obesity is normally determined using a modified BMI table. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) publishes a set of tables used to determine BMI percentages children and teens. In these tables, children whose weight is equal to or greater than the 95% bracket are considered obese.[2]

In addition, the term obese can be used in a more general way to simply mean the "excessive accumulation and storage of fat in the body".[3]

Causes of obesity

See: Causes of obesity and Bariatric science






Internet and computer usage

In 2009, an Australian university study was done concerning the association between leisure time internet and computer use with being overweight/obese and also sedentary.[7] The study concluded: "These findings suggest that, apart from nutritional and physical activity interventions, it may also be necessary to decrease time spent in sedentary behaviors, such as leisure-time Internet and computer use, in order to reduce the prevalence of overweight and obesity."[7]



In the journal article Religion, self-regulation, and self-control: Associations, explanations, and implications, psychologists McCullough and Willoughby theorize that many of the positive links of religiousness with health and social behavior may be caused by religion's beneficial influences on self-control/self-regulation.[8][9] Furthermore, a 2012 Queen's University study published in Psychological Science found that religion replenishes self-control.[10][11] Also, numerous studies indicate that those who engage in regular spiritual practices have lower mortality rates.[12][13]


For more information, please see: Atheism and obesity

Medical causes of obesity


Causes: additional information

Obesity has many causal factors. It can also be caused by improper hormone production or other malfunctions of various brain structures, including in particular the hypothalamus (site of the reward pathways, [this action=release of serotonin=feeling of pleasure]) and thyroid gland. A 2003 Duke University study shows a possible relationship between the number of children a person has and an increased risk of obesity. A woman's risk of obesity is raised 7% with each child; a man's risk is raised by 4%.[16]

Obesity is most dangerous among the children and the elderly, whose bones, livers, and lungs are too weak to deal with the excess weight and fat. Obesity can significantly shorten a person's lifespan.

Many in the medical establishment consider obesity to be an illness,[17] in the sense that it is a serious medical condition, but disagree about the root causes of non-hormone related obesity. The medical world is nearly unanimously agreed that obesity is a big problem in the Western world, and in fact becoming a problem worldwide.[18]

Liberals' answer to this problem has been to shift responsibility from those who are overeating (not including people with medical factors that cause the problems), to regulating how much fat can be in foods, what foods can be served at what restaurants, and trying to put financial penalties on restaurants that serve "fatty" foods.

Weight loss methods and medical science


For more information on weight loss methods, please see: Bariatric science

Weight loss methods and spiritual support

See: Overcoming obesity with the aid of Christian faith

Physical and mental health related problems associated with obesity

See also: Health risks linked to obesity

Some of the medical conditions associated with obesity include: type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and triglycerides, coronary artery disease (CAD), stroke, arthritis, cancer, sleep apnea, reproductive problems in women and varicose veins. Diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and CAD are most closely associated with unhealthy diets, while arthritis comes from the stress extra weight places on the body. Stokes, cancer, and reproductive problems less closely correlate with obesity.[20] In addition, medical science research indicates that excess weight impairs brain function.[21]

Medical science research indicates that excess weight impairs brain function.[21]


  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Snoring
  • Sleep apnea
  • Pain in your back or joints
  • Excessive sweating
  • Always feeling hot
  • Rashes or infection in folds of your skin
  • Feeling out of breath with minor exertion
  • Daytime sleepiness or fatigue

Concerning the issue of depression, atheists do have higher rates of suicide than the general population. For more information please see: Atheism and depression and Atheism and suicide.

Obesity in the United States

The incidence of obesity varies by region within the United States. In 2010, the five leanest states (that is, the states with the lowest rates of obesity) were Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Massachusetts, and Hawaii. The five states with the highest rates of obesity were Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, West Virginia,and Louisiana .[23] A recent study states that in 2010, the only state with less than a 20% obesity rate is Colorado. Twenty years ago, there were no states with an obesity rate higher than 15%.[24]

World issues on hunger vs. obesity

It has been noted that world obesity has risen, yet there is still an endless problem with starvation and hunger and malnutrition in both America and the world at large. A growing problem is food being horded and poorly distributed by groups like the United Nations, as well as poor food choices made by the less fortunate who would rather spend limited dollars on treat-like foods than on (admittedly harder to cook and less tasty, but better for you) choices like beans, rice, and canned vegetables. Liberals tend to deny the roles of personal choice and problems like greed in the UN, rather blaming the "establishment" for the entire problem of both hunger and obesity.

Psychology, obesity, religiosity and atheism

See also: Atheism and obesity and Psychology, obesity, religiosity and atheism and atheism and suicide

According to the Gallup Organization, "Very religious Americans are more likely to practice healthy behaviors than those who are moderately religious or nonreligious."[14] For more information please see: Atheism and obesity.

Many people overeat in response to negative emotions such as depression, anxiety and boredom.[25] Concerning atheism and mental and physical health, there is considerable amount of scientific evidence that suggest that theism is more conducive to mental and physical health than atheism. For example, atheists have higher rates of suicide than the general population. For more information, please see: Atheism and obesity.

Lesbianism and obesity

See also: Lesbianism and obesity and Homosexuality and obesity and gluttony

In April 2007, the American Journal of Public Health analyzed data from 2002 National Survey of Family Growth and the data suggested that American lesbian women were 2.69 times more likely to be overweight and 2.47 times more likely to be obese than all other female sexual orientation groups. [26] (photo obtained from Flickr, see license agreement)

Concerning lesbianism and obesity, in April 2007, the American Journal of Public Health analyzed data from 2002 National Survey of Family Growth and the data suggested that American lesbian women were 2.69 times more likely to be overweight and 2.47 times more likely to be obese than all other female sexual orientation groups. [26] The abstract for this study indicated that "lesbians are at greater risk for morbidity and mortality linked to overweight and obesity." [26]





See also

External links

Weight loss resources and tips

The 20% of overweight people who are able to achieve permanent weight loss typically report doing it through engaging in high levels of physical activity, eating a low-calorie, low-fat diet, eating breakfast regularly, self-monitoring weight, and maintaining a consistent eating pattern across weekdays and weekends.[29] Overweight individuals may need to decrease their computer and internet usage.[7]

Below are some resources related to weight loss:

General weight loss tips:

Weight loss resources and tips:

Strength training and cardio exercise:


Documentary on weight loss:


Irvingia gabonensis:

Spiritual support:

Bariatric surgery:


  1. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/info/obesity/
  2. About BMI for Children and Teens
  3. Definition of obesity
  4. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/obesity/DS00314/DSECTION=causes
  5. 6.0 6.1 Obesity - Genes are not destiny
  6. 7.0 7.1 7.2 http://www.jmir.org/2009/3/e28/
  8. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19210054
  10. Study finds religion helps us gain self-control
  13. 14.0 14.1 http://www.gallup.com/poll/145379/Religious-Americans-Lead-Healthier-Lives.aspx
  14. Medical causes of obesity, WebMD
  15. Number of Children Associated with Obesity in Middle-Aged Women and Men: Results from the Health and Retirement Study
  16. Is Obesity a Disease? Medical News Today
  17. "... when it comes to obesity—which dominates nutrition problems even in some of the poorest countries of the world—it is the calories that count." Eating Made Simple - Scientific American
  18. Definition of the bariatric
  19. 21.0 21.1 *[5]
  20. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/obesity/DS00314/DSECTION=symptoms
  21. http://calorielab.com/news/2010/06/28/fattest-states-2010/
  22. More bad news about the obesity epidemic in-America
  23. http://www.obesitypsychiatry.com/id2.html
  26. http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2007/05/obesity_and_les.html