Overweight Information Information about Overweight See Also Side Effects of Modern Medical Treatments for Overweight. Definition Obesity is the most common chronic disorder in the United States, affecting one third of the adult population. Although the body requires a certain amount of fat to store energy and act as insulation, too much body fat can create a significant health risk.
Body weight comes from muscle, bone, fat, and water.
Obesity, on the other hand, is a measure of excess body fat. The location of excess fat in the body also makes a difference for health. Fat deposited in the abdominal area poses a far higher health risk than fat in the thighs or other parts of the body. With this degree of obesity, the risks to health more than double. The tendency to become obese is often genetically inherited.