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

• adiposity
• chubbiness
• corpulence
• corpulency
• embonpoint
• fat
• fatness
• fattiness
• fleshiness
• grossness
• plumpness
• portliness
• pudginess
• pursiness
• rotundity
• weight

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

There were 1,087 people with normal body weight, 1,826 with overweight, and 1,887 with obesity. —Lauryn Higgins, Health, 12 June 2024

For example, body mass index (BMI) can have an effect on the menstrual cycle, with obesity raising the risk of early puberty in girls. —Devika Rao, theweek, 10 June 2024

The Grammy winner and American Idol alum died of complications of class III obesity at age 47, according to an autopsy reported obtained by PEOPLE. —Jack Irvin, Peoplemag, 4 June 2024

She was approached by the governor’s office of the municipality located on the Yucatán peninsula, which proposed different activities to help fight obesity. —Jad El Reda, Los Angeles Times, 2 June 2024

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