You can find the ideal weight for your height and sex from a weight chart. Forty million Americans are obese.
Obesity increases as people age.
Obesity makes it harder for your health care provider to give you a good physical exam. Looking at the inside of your body with X-rays and other types of scans, as well as surgery, may also be more difficult. The causes of obesity are not clear. Overeating is not always the cause. You get energy from the food you eat.