The Difference Between Being Overweight and Having Obesity
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Overweight and obesity are common conditions that affect people around the world. In fact, these conditions have nearly tripled worldwide since 1975. Overweight and obesity occur when you have excess fat that poses a risk to your overall health. While both conditions come with serious health consequences, your risk of complications generally increases as you develop more adipose tissue (or, body fat).
How To Measure Overweight and Obesity
Your healthcare provider can determine if you are overweight or live with obesity by measuring your height and weight. These measurements help your provider understand your body mass index (BMI), which is a measure of body fat based on a specific ratio of your height and weight.
To calculate your BMI, you divide your body mass (in kilograms) by the square of your height (in meters). Healthcare providers consider you overweight if you have a BMI of 25 or above. You may also receive a diagnosis for obesity if your BMI is at 30 or above.
While BMI is a simple and quick way to measure obesity across a population, it is a biased and flawed indicator of your overall health. The American Medical Association (AMA) has declared that BMI is an imperfect clinical measure. Your body composition is made up of more than just your weight and body fat. Other factors like your muscle mass and bone density also play an important role. The AMA states that BMI may be more helpful if used in tandem with measuring your waist circumference.
Related: Forget BMI—Here's Why Your Body Composition Matters More Than Your Weight
Causes of Overweight and Obesity
An energy imbalance between the amount of calories you eat and the amount of calories you use causes overweight or obesity. For example, consuming more calories than burning calories can increase your body fat, and as a result, your weight. The following factors may also increase your risk of experiencing either overweight or obesity:
Living a sedentary lifestyle
Eating a diet high in processed or sugary foods
Having underlying health conditions that affect your metabolism
Taking certain medications
Your genetics
While these individual factors can increase your risk of experiencing obesity, social issues can also greatly affect your overall health. These issues include, but are not limited to:
Living in a food desert, or an area with limited access to healthy foods
Experiencing poverty and homelessness, which make it difficult to buy nutritious ingredients and make meals
Having a home in a polluted or unsafe environment, which can limit your ability to participate in physical activities (e.g., going for a walk) outside
Health Consequences of Overweight and Obesity
Overweight and obesity can put you at risk of numerous health conditions, especially if you carry excess adipose tissue or body fat around the waist. This type of tissue can interfere with your immune and endocrine systems, and cause inflammation.
Some health consequences of overweight and obesity include an increased risk of the following conditions:
How To Work With Your Healthcare Provider About Weight Concerns
Your healthcare provider is best suited to talk about your weight and any concerns you may have. They can take a full look at your medical history and measure your body fat, weight, and body composition to get a clear picture of your health. If you're experiencing symptoms that are interfering with your daily life or if you have obesity and aren't able to lose weight despite your efforts, they can test you for underlying conditions that may be affecting your weight.
For example, some conditions, like hypothyroidism, Cushing's syndrome, or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), can lead to overweight or obesity. Hypothyroidism can fundamentally slow down your metabolism, while PCOS can cause other hormonal imbalances. If you have Cushing's syndrome, your body produces too much cortisol which can also lead to excess weight gain.
Whether you are overweight, have obesity, or are concerned about your health, talk to your healthcare provider about your treatment options. They can work with you to find a treatment plan that works for your needs. This might include a combination of medication, lifestyle changes, and/or surgery.
Treating and Managing Overweight and Obesity
There are a few different treatment options for overweight and obesity. Treating each is not a one-size-fits-all solution. For some people, implementing healthy lifestyle changes can help. These changes may include:
Getting 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night
Eating a nutritious diet filled with whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and protein
Moving your body through physical activity or exercise
Drinking enough water
Managing stress levels through methods like yoga, meditation, or journaling
If lifestyle changes alone aren't improving your condition, your healthcare provider may recommend medication. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved medications like Wegovy for treating obesity. These medications work by imitating a natural hormone in your body that helps regulate your appetite.
In some cases, your provider may also recommend surgery. To qualify for weight loss surgery, your provider usually requires you to have a BMI of 35 or above and be at risk of obesity-related health complications. Options for weight loss surgeries include gastric bypass surgery, gastric sleeve surgery, or gastric banding. Each of these surgeries changes the size or shape of your stomach to restrict how much food you can eat.
A Quick Review
Overweight and obesity are extremely common conditions. While they are slightly different, they come with many of the same health complications, such as an increased risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer, and chronic pain. A range of factors, from lifestyle habits to underlying health conditions, can cause overweight or obesity. However, several treatment options such as eating a nutritious diet, getting more exercise, and taking medication, can help you manage your condition and achieve your goal weight.
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