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

• adiposity
• chubbiness
• corpulence
• corpulency
• embonpoint
• fat
• fatness
• fattiness
• fleshiness
• grossness
• plumpness
• portliness
• pudginess
• pursiness
• rotundity
• weight

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

Sleep deprivation is linked to heart disease, cognitive decline, obesity and numerous other problems. —Lauran Neergaard, Chicago Tribune, 3 Mar. 2025

But a survey last year by the benefits consultant Mercer said fewer half of large employers covered GLP-1 drugs for obesity. —Ken Alltucker, USA TODAY, 2 Mar. 2025

Some are researching the connection between obesity and sweets, and how having a sweet tooth might put someone in a romantic mindset. —Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 28 Feb. 2025

Fatty liver disease, a condition linked to obesity and diabetes that is characterized by fat buildup in the liver, made up the second largest share: 20%. —Aria Bendix, NBC News, 27 Feb. 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