Final answer:
Obesity is defined by the body mass index (BMI) which is a measure of weight in relation to height. A BMI greater than 30 is considered obesity. Severe obesity can lead to serious medical conditions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Obesity is defined by the body mass index (BMI), which is a measure of a person's weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. The normal, or healthy, BMI range is between 18 and 24.9 kg/m². Overweight is defined as a BMI of 25 to 29.9 kg/m², and obesity is considered to be a BMI greater than 30 kg/m². Obesity can arise from a number of factors, including overeating, poor diet, sedentary lifestyle, limited sleep, genetic factors, and even diseases or drugs.
Severe obesity (morbid obesity) or long-term obesity can result in serious medical conditions, including coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, stroke, and more. Research has shown that losing weight can help reduce or reverse the complications associated with these conditions.