Frequently asked questions about obesity and BMI Q: What is obesity?
Obesity can be defined as an excess accumulation of body fat sufficient to endanger health. It is a disease (not a personal weakness) that requires long-term treatment and management to achieve and sustain weight loss. Experts agree that the primary cause of obesity is the excessive intake of calories, generally as fat. Obesity results from too many calories being consumed, with insufficient or decreased physical activity. The correlation between energy intake, expenditure, and resulting body fat distribution varies by individual. In general, it’s easiest for the body to store excess calories in the form of fat. It’s harder for the body to convert excess carbohydrates or protein into fat.
