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

When popular obesity and weight loss drugs were in shortage in recent years, the company could legally sell copycat versions at a discount. — Jacqueline Corba, CNBC, 18 Aug. 2026

The Pentagon estimates roughly 75% of Americans ages 17 to 24 are ineligible to serve, and has been that way for a long time, with obesity and failure to meetacademic standards among the leading reasons. — Steven Beynon, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026

Research has shown that women with obesity earn about 6% less than thinner women for identical work and that people in larger bodies may also face discriminatory termination and negative stereotypes that can hinder hiring and career advancement. — Brittney McNamara, Vogue, 17 Aug. 2026

Doctors are increasingly warning that rapid weight loss can strip away muscle mass alongside fat, and figuring out how to protect that muscle is now one of the most urgent questions in obesity medicine. — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 17 Aug. 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