Obesity is a complex condition defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that increases a person's risk for certain diseases and conditions. Being obese is not a cosmetic issue, but instead a medical issue that requires understanding and appropriate care. Learn more about the definition, causes, prevention, and treatment of obesity.

Obesity Basics

Health Overview Illustration - Obesity
What Is Obesity?
homemade chicken and vegetable meal prep in glass container
5 Dietitian-Approved Tips for Effective Weight Management
Woman waiting at doctor office
BMI Not Always a Good Indicator of Metabolic Health, Study Shows

Explore Obesity

wegovy, ozempic, and mounjaro boxes
Biden Says Medicare, Medicaid Should Cover Obesity Drugs—What Could That Mean for Access?
An Ozempic injection pen on a table.
Are You Eligible for Ozempic? New Study Suggests Over Half of U.S. Adults Qualify
Someone holding a frying pan with french fries at a commercial kitchen.
Is Beef Tallow a Healthier Alternative to Seed Oils? What to Know Following RFK Jr.'s Claims
Doctor explaining to patient with ipad
The Tirzepatide Shortage Has a Surprising Impact on Access to Weight Loss Drugs
Ozempic Insulin injection pen for diabetics and weight loss
How Much Weight Can You Lose on a GLP-1 Drug? It Depends on These Factors
Semaglutide
Study: Ozempic May Improve This Chronic Skin Condition
Man preparing Ozempic injection
7 Mistakes People Make While Taking Weight Loss Drugs, According to Experts
Doctor explaining to a patient using an ipad
What You Need To Know about Compounded Medications
Woman drinking water while running in a park.
Exercising On Weight Loss Drugs May Have a Surprising Side Effect (Hint: It's Not Just More Weight Loss)
Woman measuring her waist
How To Get a Prescription for Wegovy
Woman measuring her waist.
BMI Is Misleading—Could Your ‘Body Roundness Index’ Be a Better Health Indicator?
Diet drug Mounjaro
How and Where To Get Mounjaro
Zepbound medication in vials
What to Know About the New, Lower-Cost Version of Zepbound
Man preparing semaglutide injection
Many Patients Stop Weight Management Drugs Too Soon—Here’s Why That Concerns Doctors
person placing ozempic in the middle shelf of an open refrigerator in the kitchen
Does Ozempic Need To Be Refrigerated?
person injecting weight loss medication into stomach
Which Medications Are FDA-Approved for Weight Loss?
Young woman wearing pink sports coat scooping l-carnitine powder into a shaker bottle
Health Benefits of L-Carnitine
Woman hand with semaglutide injection pen
FDA Warns People Are Overdosing on Unapproved Weight Loss Drugs
A smiling young woman stretches her arm during her exercise outdoors.
Why Weight Loss Can Be Challenging
person in kitchen preparing a meal full of fruits and vegetables as part of their weight management plan
A Comprehensive Guide to Achieving Your Ideal Body Weight
healthcare provider treating patient with back pain
What the Amount of Fat on Your Arms Might Tell You About Your Spine Health
mother with obesity cutting vegetables with son in their kitchen
Is Obesity Genetic?
Mounjaro injection pen on display
Ozempic vs. Mounjaro: Head-to-Head Study Shows Weight Loss Winner
person adminstering peptide medication to help aid weight loss
What Role Do Peptides Play in Weight Loss?
A woman and an elderly man are jogging in the street.
Study: Current BMI Obesity Guidelines May Be Inaccurate for Those Over Age 40
Woman looking at a calorie tracker on a smartphone, holding a green juice and sitting at a wooden table with strawberries, apples, avocados, and other fruits and veggies on the table
How Much Weight Can You Lose in a Month?
Woman jumping
Study: Intermittent Fasting and High-Intensity Exercise Produce Better Weight Management Results When Combined
woman eating salad looking at phone
Calorie Counting Vs. Time-Restricted Eating: Which Is Better for Weight Management?
Hands holding GLP-1 injection pen for obesity
Beyond Obesity: Using GLP-1s for Weight Management
person using glp-1 drug
GLP-1 Receptor Agonists
person who takes GLP-1 medications exercising at home
How to Exercise While Taking GLP-1 Medications
Person holding chickpeas
Animal vs. Plant-Based Protein: Which Is Better for Weight Management?
semaglutide GLP-1 medications for weight loss
How GLP-1 Medications Aid Weight Loss
Girl sitting on toilet
'Budget Ozempic'? Nearly 1 in 10 Adolescents Have Used Laxatives for Weight Loss
person who missed an ozempic dose experiencing abdominal pain
What Happens When You Miss an Ozempic Dose?
Ozempic packaging
Ozempic, Wegovy Not Associated With Increased Risk of Suicidal Ideation, Study Finds
Doctor writing a prescription
Everything You Need To Know about Getting a Prescription for Ozempic
Woman stepping on scale
Stopping Zepbound Will Likely Result in Weight Gain—But How Much?
person serving healthy food to eat while taking glp-1 medications
Foods and Drinks To Consume While Taking GLP-1 Drugs
Older man sleeping
Popular Weight Loss and Diabetes Drugs May Also Help Alleviate Sleep Apnea Symptoms
overweight person exercising to lose weight
What Does It Mean To Be Overweight?
Doctor talking to older man
What Happens to Your Body When You Stop Taking Ozempic?
Man pouring a cup of coffee
Drinking Coffee Might Help You Manage Your Weight—As Long As You Skip the Sugar
woman's feet standing on scale at home.
'Ozempic Butt' and 'Ozempic Face': How Weight Loss Drugs May Affect Your Skin
Woman reading birth control package
What to Know Before Taking Obesity Drugs While on Birth Control
Person using a bathroom scale
Ozempic Side Effects To Know
Working out at night
Working Out in the Evening Linked to Greater Health Benefits for People Who Have Obesity
woman walking in city park
Can Weight Loss Surgery, Medications, and Lifestyle Changes Improve Brain Health?
person with severe obesity making nutritious meal
Morbid Obesity (Class III Obesity)
Woman clutching her stomach
Drugs Like Ozempic, Wegovy Linked to Greater Risk of Severe Gastrointestinal Side Effects
woman pouring sugar substitute into coffee
Replacing Sugar With Sweeteners Can Help Maintain Weight Loss Without Increasing Disease Risk
two women walking on nature trail
Study: People With Higher Genetic Risk for Obesity May Need More Daily Steps to Manage Weight
oats in blender
'Oatzempic': TikTok Users Claim New Drink Helps With Weight Loss—Here's What You Need to Know
bottle with apple cider vinegar
Study: Drinking 1 Tablespoon of Apple Cider Vinegar Each Day Linked to Weight Loss in Younger Adults
stress increases the risk of obesity
What Causes Obesity?
hand adds psyllium fiber to glass of water
Ozempic and Wegovy Can Cause Constipation, Diarrhea, and More—But Can Fiber Help?
person using ozempic
Can Ozempic, Wegovy Cause Hair Loss and Suicidal Ideation? FDA Investigating GLP-1 Drug Side Effects
body fat percentage measurement on adult using caliper
BMI vs. Body Fat Percentage: Which Is a Better Indicator of Health?
measuring body composition with caliper
What Is Body Composition?
person with obesity speaking to doctor
The Difference Between Being Overweight and Having Obesity
people eating thanksgiving dinner
How Drugs Like Ozempic, Wegovy Can Affect Thanksgiving Plans
people with obesity treating their condition with physical activity
How Is Obesity Treated?
Person injecting themselves ozempic or mounjaro for diabetes
What's the Difference Between Mounjaro and Ozempic?