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

Insufficient sleep puts you at an elevated risk for a number of health conditions, including depression, anxiety, heart disease and obesity. —Caroline C. Boyle, USA Today, 28 Mar. 2025

Being in debt is associated with other ailments, including back pain and obesity. —Jeffrey Anvari-Clark, The Conversation, 27 Mar. 2025

Edwards noted that the United States is suffering from an obesity crisis. —Lauren Green, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 25 Mar. 2025

Mike Blake | Reuters Eli Lilly plans to release key data on its once-daily obesity pill, orforglipron, this year, which could help the company solidify its place in the weight loss and diabetes drug market. —Michele Luhn, CNBC, 25 Mar. 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