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

The first death reportedly occurred in July, when a healthcare professional informed the FDA that a 41-year-old woman with obesity went into cardiac arrest. — Daniel Gilbert, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026

The study, which analyzed nearly 800,000 individuals across their lifespan, found that clinical obesity rates climbed through adulthood. — Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026

Better semen measures in men with obesity or low testosterone have been reported in other studies. — Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2026

Other large employers similarly don't cover those treatments for obesity or have recently dropped coverage to tamp down on their healthcare costs. — Annika Kim Constantino,laya Neelakandan, CNBC, 13 Oct. 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