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

Global studies have similarly found that obesity is more prevalent in places marked by economic inequality, suggesting that cultural and environment factors, rather than individual choices, play a greater role in weight outcomes. —Time, 19 Dec. 2025

Pfizer recently won a takeover war with Novo Nordisk over the obesity biotech Metsera, whose pipeline includes potential once-monthly treatments. —Lillian Rizzo, CNBC, 19 Dec. 2025

Plus another kind of obesity pill that could be right behind it. —Emily Kwong, NPR, 19 Dec. 2025

The review described obesity and climate change as essentially two sides of the same coin. —Royson Valliyil, ABC News, 18 Dec. 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