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
Malorye AllisonExamples of obesity in a Sentence
obesity has been linked to a number of health risks, such as heart disease
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Manufactured since the 1940s to make products nonstick, stain-resistant and water-repellent, legacy PFAS have been linked to human cancer, obesity, thyroid disease, high cholesterol, decreased fertility, liver damage, hormone disruption and damage to the immune system, according to the EPA.
—Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 9 June 2026
But, Gralow says, the data is consistent with what is known about how obesity is a driver for about a dozen cancers, and how healthy living is significant in both illness and recovery.
—Yuki Noguchi, NPR, 9 June 2026
While excess weight puts more mechanical stress on bones, increasing bone density, the inflammation associated with obesity is linked to a decrease in bone health and may counteract the effects, Matzkin explained.
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 June 2026
Reducing weight also reduces the pathways by which obesity fuels cancer, explains Bernard Fuemmeler, associate director of population science at the VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center and a co-author of the breast cancer study and the colorectal cancer study presented at ASCO.
—Lori Youmshajekian, Scientific American, 8 June 2026
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Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 9 June 2026
But, Gralow says, the data is consistent with what is known about how obesity is a driver for about a dozen cancers, and how healthy living is significant in both illness and recovery.
—Yuki Noguchi, NPR, 9 June 2026
While excess weight puts more mechanical stress on bones, increasing bone density, the inflammation associated with obesity is linked to a decrease in bone health and may counteract the effects, Matzkin explained.
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 June 2026
Reducing weight also reduces the pathways by which obesity fuels cancer, explains Bernard Fuemmeler, associate director of population science at the VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center and a co-author of the breast cancer study and the colorectal cancer study presented at ASCO.
—Lori Youmshajekian, Scientific American, 8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for obesity
Cite this Entry
“Obesity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/obesity. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical 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
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