The term ‘obese’ describes a person who’s very overweight, with a lot of body fat.

It’s a common problem in the UK that’s estimated to affect around one in every four adults and around one in every five children aged 10 to 11.

There are many ways in which a person’s health in relation to their weight can be classified, but the most widely used method is body mass index (BMI).

BMI is a measure of whether you’re a healthy weight for your height. You can use the BMI healthy weight chart to work out your score.

Risks of obesity.

It’s very important to take steps to tackle obesity because, as well as causing obvious physical changes, it can lead to a number of serious and potentially life-threatening conditions, such as:

Type 2 diabetes

Coronary heart disease

Some types of cancer, such as breast cancer and bowel cancer

Stroke

Day-to-day problems related to obesity includes:

Breathlessness

Increased sweating

Snoring

Difficulty doing physical activity

Often feeling very tired

Joint and back pain

Low confidence and self-esteem

Feeling isolated

Obesity can also affect your quality of life and lead to psychological problems, such as depression and low self-esteem (see below for more information about the health problems associated with obesity).

Obesity is generally caused by consuming more calories – particularly those in fatty and sugary foods – than you burn off through physical activity. The excess energy is stored by the body as fat.

Obesity is an increasingly common problem because for many people modern living involves eating excessive amounts of cheap, high-calorie food and spending a lot of time sitting down, at desks, on sofas or in cars.

There are also some underlying health conditions that can occasionally contribute to weight gain, such as an underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism), although these type of conditions don’t usually cause weight problems if they’re effectively controlled with medication.

Treating obesity

The best way to treat obesity is to eat a healthy, reduced-calorie diet and exercise regularly. To do this you should:

eat a balanced, calorie-controlled diet as recommended by your GP or weight loss management health professional (such as a dietitian)

Join a local weight loss group

Take up activities such as fast walking, jogging, swimming or tennis for 150 to 300 minutes (two-and-a-half to five hours) a week

Eat slowly and avoid situations where you know you could be tempted to overat

You may also benefit from receiving psychological support from a trained healthcare professional to help change the way you think about food and eating.

If lifestyle changes alone don’t help you lose weight, a medication called orlistat may be recommended. If taken correctly, this medication works by reducing the amount of fat you absorb during digestion. Your GP will know whether orlistat is suitable for you.

In rare cases, weight loss surgery may be recommended.Other obesity-related problems

Obesity can cause a number of further problems, including difficulties with daily activities and serious health conditions.

The psychological problems associated with being obese can also affect your relationships with family and friends, and may lead to depression.