WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE OVERWEIGHT?

Medically reviewed by Amelia MacIntyre, DOMedically reviewed by Amelia MacIntyre, DO

The term "overweight" refers to a widespread condition that occurs when your body develops a high number of fat deposits, which increases how much you weigh. The World Health Organization estimates that 2.5 billion people worldwide are considered overweight. 

Most healthcare providers assess weight using the body mass index (BMI), a tool that measures your height and weight to determine your overall health status. However, multiple factors affect your risk of becoming overweight, like your eating habits, activity levels, genetics, and family history.

Being overweight may increase your risk of certain chronic health conditions like obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. Losing weight can prevent these risks and improve your well-being. 

How Do You Become Overweight?

You can become overweight when your body has too many fat cells or fat cells that are too large. Generally, excess adipose tissue (fat) occurs because your body is experiencing an energy imbalance.

Your body takes in energy through food and spends energy through physical exercise. When the body consumes more energy (calories) than needed, the energy is stored for future use, which can increase how much fat cells you're carrying. 

Several factors affect body weight and how the body stores excess energy, including:

  • Eating high-calorie foods like sweets or fried meals
  • Not getting enough daily exercise or physical activity
  • Living in an area with a lack of access to healthy food markets and outdoor spaces
  • Taking medications that can cause weight gain, such as hormonal birth control
  • Having a family history of being overweight
  • Experiencing chronic stress or sleep problems
  • Receiving a diagnosis for underlying conditions like metabolic syndrome and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

What Is BMI?

Many healthcare providers use the body mass index (BMI), which is a tool that assesses your height and weight to determine if you are classified as being overweight or have obesity. Obesity occurs when your BMI is higher than the overweight category. According to the BMI, the weight guidelines for adults are:

  • Obesity: 30 or higher
  • Overweight: 25-29.9
  • Healthy weight: 18.5-24.9
  • Underweight: Less than 18.5 

There are several ways to learn your BMI. Your healthcare provider could share the number with you, you could calculate your BMI by dividing your weight by the square of your height, or you could use a free online calculator, such as this one created by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

While BMI is a quick and simple way to assess your weight, it is a biased and flawed tool and does not give a full picture of your health status. Several other factors, like your genetics, family history, health conditions, muscle mass, body composition, and bone density, all play a role in your overall health. 

Another tool that you can use to assess your weight is asking your provider to check your waist circumference. The measurement around your waist may be helpful because it considers the amount of abdominal fat you carry. Having excess fat around your waist and abdomen is linked to several chronic health conditions like heart disease and obesity. 

The following waist circumferences may increase your risk of other health conditions:

  • 40 inches or more for people assigned male at birth
  • 35 inches or more for people assigned female at birth 

Health Risks of Being Overweight

People who are overweight have a higher amount of body fat, and this extra fat can raise the risk of some chronic health conditions. 

Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is a common complication of being overweight. This condition occurs when the body’s blood glucose (sugar) levels are too high. People with type 2 diabetes do not have enough insulin to reduce their blood sugar, which can cause symptoms like feeling hungry, needing to go to the bathroom frequently, or having fatigue. 

Heart Disease

Extra body weight puts stress on the heart and can affect heart health. People who are overweight are at higher risk of conditions like hypertension (high blood pressure), heart attack, and stroke. 

Cancer 

An excessive amount of body fat raises the risk of certain cancers. A person who is overweight may be at increased risk of breast, ovarian, uterine, prostate, liver, gallbladder, kidney, and colon cancers. 

Chronic Pain

Being overweight puts extra stress on your body’s muscles, bones, and joints, which can often lead to pain. People who are overweight have a higher risk of developing chronic pain that affects the muscles and bones and rheumatic conditions like arthritis. 

Digestive Disorders

Excess body fat affects how your body digests and absorbs food. People with extra fat around the liver may experience liver damage or liver disease. Too much fat around the abdominal area can also lead to gallstones and gallbladder disease and raise the risk of kidney disease. 

Fertility and Pregnancy Concerns

Being overweight may affect your ability to become pregnant. Excess body weight can affect hormone levels and menstrual cycle regularity in people assigned female at birth. However, people assigned male at birth who are also overweight may experience a lower sperm quality, which can affect fertility as well.

If you are pregnant and have excess fat, you may also have a higher chance of pregnancy complications, like preeclampsia and gestational diabetes. 

Mental Health Conditions

Children and adults who are overweight have a higher risk of experiencing mental health conditions (like depression or anxiety) due to higher stress levels and lower quality of life. Many people may experience these feelings because of bullying, discrimination, or harassment about their weight.

If you're noticing a dip in your mental health due to your weight, talking to your healthcare provider and consulting with a mental health professional can support you in your journey. 

Treatment Options

While being overweight can come with certain health risks, it is certainly treatable and reversible. The goals of treatment are to help you lose weight safely and maintain a weight that is right for your body and needs. 

For most people who are overweight, the first line of treatment is lifestyle changes. Several lifestyle choices could help you lose weight, such as: 

  • Eating nutritious foods: A registered dietician (RD) can help you develop an eating plan based on your body's needs for calories and nutrients.
  • Getting physical activity: Healthcare providers recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate-to-intense physical activity for adults weekly.
  • Tracking or monitoring yourself: Tracking your calorie intake and exercise sessions is an effective weight loss tool.

When lifestyle changes alone are ineffective, your healthcare team may recommend medication. Your provider may also consider prescribing weight loss medication if you are at risk of developing obesity or other chronic health conditions. 

Xenical or Alli (orlistat) is a weight loss medication that reduces the amount of fat your body can absorb. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has also approved the following drugs to be used for weight loss and obesity treatment because they lower your appetite and help you feel full sooner:

  • Qsymia (phentermine-topiramate)
  • Contrave (naltrexone-bupropion)
  • Saxenda (liraglutide)
  • Wegovy (semaglutide)

Weight Management Tips

You can take additional steps to lose weight and retain a healthy weight for your body. These tips help you prevent becoming overweight and maintain weight loss. Consider making the following lifestyle changes:

  • Eat a nutritious diet rich in vegetables, fruits, lean proteins, legumes, whole grains, and nuts
  • Limit your intake of high-calorie foods like sweets or processed meals 
  • Engage in 150 minutes of moderate physical activity each week
  • Move your body throughout the day and limit sitting for long periods
  • Reduce stress with relaxation exercises or mindfulness practices
  • Prioritize good sleep by going to bed and waking up at the same time each day
  • Avoid using tobacco or alcohol

A Quick Review

Being overweight occurs when you have an excess amount of body fat. This condition is common and affects up to 2.5 billion people worldwide. Several factors can affect your weight, including your eating habits, physical activity levels, genetics, family history, and chronic health conditions. 

Being overweight can increase your risk of conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and chronic pain. Eating nutritious foods, getting physical activity, and improving sleep are key strategies that can help you lose weight and maintain a weight that's right for you.

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2024-07-15T21:09:56Z dg43tfdfdgfd