Obesity is a complex disorder involving an excessive amount of body fat. In general, overweight and obesity indicate a weight greater than what is considered healthy. Obesity is not just a cosmetic concern. It increases your risk of diseases and health problems such as heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure. Being extremely obese means you are especially likely to have health problems related to your weight.

Obesity is best defined by using the body mass index. The body mass index is calculated using a person's height and weight. The body mass index (BMI) equals a person's weight in kilograms (kg) divided by their height in meters (m) squared. Since BMI describes body weight relative to height, it is strongly correlated with total body fat content in adults. An adult who has a BMI of 25-29.9 is considered overweight, and an adult who has a BMI over 30 is considered obese.

Symptoms

• Large body frame
• Difficulty in doing daily activities
• Lethargy
• Breathlessness
• Disproportionate facial features
• Breast region adiposity - (sagging fat cells) in boys
• Big belly (abdomen), sometimes marked with white or purple blemishes
• Male external genitalia may appear disproportionately small
• Flabby fat in the upper arms and thighs

Treatments

The goal of obesity treatment is to reach and stay at a healthy weight. You may need to work with a team of health professionals - including a dietitian, behavior therapist or an obesity specialist — to help you understand and make changes in you’re eating and activity habits. All weight-loss programs require changes in your eating habits and increased physical activity. The treatment methods that are right for you depend on your level of obesity, your overall health and your willingness to participate in your weight-loss plan.

Other treatment tools include:

• Dietary changes
• Exercise and activity
• Behavior change
• Prescription weight-loss medications
• Weight-loss surgery
• Prescription medications or weight-loss surgery also may be options for treating obesity.