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

• 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

Negative health effects of obesity are well documented by scientists and heavily covered in the media. —Laura Clawson, JSTOR Daily, 5 Aug. 2025

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes and obesity continues to increase in youth across the country, hence the need for improved intervention. —Hannah Millington, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Aug. 2025

The researchers induced obesity in rats by feeding them a high-fat diet and then measured EEC levels via chromogranin A (CHGA), a marker for EECs, and levels of transcription factors that guide stem cells to become EECs. —New Atlas, 3 Aug. 2025

For one, obesity is a risk factor for up to 13 forms of cancer, and excess body weight is responsible for about 7% of all cancer deaths. —William Cornwell, The Conversation, 1 Aug. 2025

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