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

One of the biggest threats to a dog's health is obesity, which affects over 34 percent of canines in America, according to the AKC. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024

More liberal Medicaid coverage could expand access for the almost 40% of adults and 26% of children with obesity in Medicaid, but would strain some state budgets. —Tina Reed, Axios, 5 Nov. 2024

The analysis of a six-year period showed a 30% decrease in obesity risk for babies conceived or born during rationing, with a faster increase in type 2 diabetes and hypertension in those after the sugar ration ended. —Sam Tupper, CNN, 4 Nov. 2024

Conditions that increase one’s risk for severe RSV include having chronic medical conditions like heart and lung disease, obesity, being immunocompromised and living in a nursing home. —Omer Awan, Forbes, 3 Nov. 2024

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