obesity

noun

obe·​si·​ty ō-ˈbē-sə-tē 

: a condition characterized by the excessive accumulation and storage of fat in the body

Obesity affects not just appearance, but disease processes as well.

—Malorye Allison

Synonyms of obesity

• fatness
• fat
• weight
• adiposity
• corpulence

Examples of obesity in a Sentence

obesity has been linked to a number of health risks, such as heart disease

Recent Examples on the Web

Alcohol is a leading preventable cause of cancer similar to obesity and tobacco. —Lev Facher, STAT, 12 May 2026

Signs of the condition can include obesity and hypertension, depression, eating disorders, acne and infertility, among others. —Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 12 May 2026

Denmark's market slumped as concerns mounted over the slowing demand for obesity drugs made by Novo Nordisk, while Saudi Arabia's equity market, dominated by Saudi Aramco, struggled when oil prices fell. —Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 12 May 2026

Research shows a strong link between HS severity and metabolic factors like obesity and insulin resistance, which contribute to a chronic pro-inflammatory state. —Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 11 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French obesité, borrowed from Latin obēsitāt-, obēsitās, from obēsus "fat, stout" + -itāt-, -itās -ity — more at obese

First Known Use

circa 1611, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing obesity

• anti-obesity

Medical Definition

obesity

noun

obe·​si·​ty ō-ˈbē-sət-ē 

plural obesities

: a condition that is characterized by excessive accumulation and storage of fat in the body and that in an adult is typically indicated by a body mass index of 30 or greater