Question

The term obese is used when a patient is _________ over his or her ideal weight.

A) 10% to 20%
B) 20% to 30%
C) 30% to 40%
D) 40% to 50%

Answer 1

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. To be considered obese, a patient needs to be at least 20 percent heavier than their healthy weight range. This means that option D) 40% to 50% is incorrect and the correct answer is C) 30% to 40%.

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. For a patient to be classified as obese, they need to be at least 20 percent heavier than their healthy weight range. Therefore, they would have a BMI greater than 30 kg/m². This means that option D) 40% to 50% is incorrect and the correct answer is C) 30% to 40%.