Overweight and obesity are conditions in which a person’s weight, given their height, is too high and can cause health problems. Obesity carries greater health risks than having overweight. Learn about factors affecting weight, health risks of overweight and obesity, how eating habits and physical activity can help you lose and maintain weight.
Thin woman to Obese Woman with an abundance of Visceral Fat
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Definition & Facts
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Obesity Is Toxic
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Obesity Is Toxic
How does obesity lead to diabetes? Extremely overweight people have high levels of unbound fatty acids floating around in their bloodstreams. The surplus affects the liver's ability to store sugar, and the pancreas's ability to produce insulin to take up blood sugar. When these systems stop working, blood sugar becomes too high. The cells' natural response to insulin is disrupted and a person develops insulin resistance or diabetes. Further, insulin resistant and diabetic people build up visceral fat, which can lead to inflammation and more complications.
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Definition & Facts for Adult Overweight & Obesity
What are overweight and obesity?
The terms “overweight” and “obesity” refer to body weight that is greater than what is considered normal or healthy for a certain height. Overweight is generally due to extra body fat. However, overweight may also be due to extra muscle, bone, or water. People who have obesity usually have too much body fat.
Your body mass index (BMI) is one way to tell if you are at a healthy weight, overweight, or have obesity. The BMI is a measure based on your weight in relation to your height. The greater your BMI, the greater your risk of health problems from overweight and obesity.
Reaching and staying at a healthy weight may be a long-term challenge if you are overweight or have obesity. Maintaining a healthy weight—or at least not gaining more weight if you are already overweight—can help lower your chance of developing certain health problems.
More than 1 in 3 U.S. adults are considered to have obesity.
How common is overweight and obesity?
According to a national U.S. survey
more than 1 in 3 adults were considered to be overweight
more than 1 in 3 adults were considered to have obesity
more than 2 in 3 adults were considered to be overweight or have obesity
For more statistics on overweight and obesity in the United States, see NIDDK’s Overweight & Obesity Statistics.
Who is more likely to be overweight?
Men are more likely than women to be overweight.
Who is more likely to have obesity?
According to a national U.S. survey, some groups are more likely to have obesity.
Among black adults, 48 out of 100 were considered to have obesity.
Among Hispanic adults, 42 out of 100 were considered to have obesity.
Among white adults, 36 out of 100 were considered to have obesity.
Women are more likely than men to have obesity.
Many factors play a role in who is more likely to have obesity, and these factors may affect people differently.
Why do people gain weight?
Many factors may cause weight gain and affect how much weight your body stores. When you take in more calories from food or beverages than you use up from physical activity and through daily living, such as sitting or sleeping, your body stores the extra calories. Over time, if you continue to consume more calories than you burn off, you will likely gain weight. Excessive weight gain may lead to overweight or obesity.
Who should lose weight?
Medical experts recommend that people who have obesity should lose weight.
Most people who are overweight and have one or more factors that raise their chance for heart disease should lose weight. These factors include
diabetes
prediabetes
high blood pressure
dyslipidemia—high levels of LDL cholesterol, low levels of HDL cholesterol, or high levels of triglycerides
a large waist size—for men, greater than 40 inches; for women, greater than 35 inches
Source: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Additional Materials (2)
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Childhood Obesity
See why we're experiencing an epidemic of childhood obesity-and how you can help your child to get fit and stay healthy. Hear experts talk about why weight management for children is all about health, not about appearance. In 95% of all cases, child obesity isn't due to glandular problems or genes. It's environmental: kids are eating more food-much of it unhealthy-and moving less. But there's good news. For kids, small changes, like getting outside more and substituting healthy for unhealthy snacks, can make a big difference. Kids bounce back better than adults because they usually don't yet have chronic health problems. See why eating breakfast is so important, for health and for better grades in school. Learn why making meals together at home is better for them and for the whole family.
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Adiposopathy
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Childhood Obesity
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Adiposopathy
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What Is Obesity?
Obesity and Diabetes
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Obesity and Diabetes
Overweight and obesity are the primary risk factors for diabetes, especially if body fat is concentrated in the abdominal area. No fewer than 90% of people with type 2 diabetes are obese or overweight. Obesity is the most common cause of insulin resistance: the more adipose (fatty) tissue someone carries, the more resistant his or her cells become to insulin. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other health organizations as have defined obesity as a body mass index (BMI) of 30 and above. A BMI of 30 is about 30 pounds overweight.
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What Is Obesity?
Obesity is a common, serious, and costly chronic disease. Many factors can contribute to gaining too much weight including eating patterns, physical activity levels, sleep routines, genetics, and certain medications.
The conditions in which we live, work, and play—called social determinants of health—also matter. Child care and school environments, community design, access to healthy, affordable foods and beverages, and access to safe and convenient places for physical activity affect our ability to make healthy choices.
Obesity is serious because it is associated with poorer mental health outcomes and reduced quality of life. In the United States and worldwide, obesity is also associated with the leading causes of death, including deaths from diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some types of cancer.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Is It Common?
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Obesity Epidemic
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Obesity Epidemic
Top experts talk about why obesity is so strongly linked to the four major causes of death in the US-heart disease, cancer, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. Discover the many disorders associated with obesity: infertility, back pain, Alzheimer's disease, sleep apnea, and more. Find out what your BMI is and why it matters. You'll see why our bodies aren't suited to our modern way of life. Learn how we respond to the wrong cues when we eat and ignore our natural, internal cues. Journey inside your blood vessels and see, on a microscopic level, exactly what happens when you overeat. Witness how fat cells transform from tiny individual cells into a massive tissue. How do we change the tide? Dieting is not the answer! You'll find out how to make little changes in your life that add up to big ones.
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Adult Obesity Facts
Adult obesity prevalence by state and territory using self-reported information from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.
Obesity is a common, serious, and costly disease
The US obesity prevalence was 41.9% in 2017 – March 2020. (NHANES, 2021)
From 1999 –2000 through 2017 –March 2020, US obesity prevalence increased from 30.5% to 41.9%. During the same time, the prevalence of severe obesity increased from 4.7% to 9.2%. (NHANES, 2021)
Obesity-related conditions include heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer. These are among the leading causes of preventable, premature death.
The estimated annual medical cost of obesity in the United States was nearly $173 billion in 2019 dollars. Medical costs for adults who had obesity were $1,861 higher than medical costs for people with healthy weight.
Obesity affects some groups more than others
Non-Hispanic Black adults (49.9%) had the highest age-adjusted prevalence of obesity, followed by Hispanic adults (45.6%), non-Hispanic White adults (41.4%) and non-Hispanic Asian adults (16.1%).
The obesity prevalence was 39.8% among adults aged 20 to 39 years, 44.3% among adults aged 40 to 59 years, and 41.5% among adults aged 60 and older.
Obesity and socioeconomic status
The association between obesity and income or educational level is complex and differs by sex and race/ethnicity.
Overall, men and women with college degrees had lower obesity prevalence compared with those with less education.
The same obesity and education pattern occurred among non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black, and Hispanic women, and non-Hispanic White men. However, the differences were not all statistically significant. Although the difference was not statistically significant among non-Hispanic Black men, obesity prevalence increased with educational attainment. No differences in obesity prevalence by education level were noted among non-Hispanic Asian women and men and Hispanic men.
Among men, obesity prevalence was lower in the lowest and highest income groups compared with the middle-income group. Researchers observed this pattern among non-Hispanic White and Hispanic men. Obesity prevalence was higher in the highest income group than in the lowest income group among non-Hispanic Black men.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Additional Materials (2)
Childhood Obesity Worldwide
Childhood Obesity Worldwide : Childhood obesity is an epidemic around the globe. In the US, an estimated 17% of children and adolescents ages 2-19 are obese. In the last three decades, the percentage of obese children doubled in children ages 2-5 and tripled in children and adolescents ages 6-19. Up to 80% of obese youth become obese adults, who are at high risk for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease-the leading cause of death in North America.
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Obesity in the United States
Obesity in the US : According to a survey done by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) in 2005-2006, most of the people in the US are either overweight or obese. About 33% of adults 20 years and older are overweight. Around 34% are obese, and 6% are morbidly (extremely) obese. The prevalence of obesity has more than doubled since 1980 (although the prevalence of overweight hasn't increased).
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Childhood Obesity Worldwide
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Obesity in the United States
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Risk Factors
Risk Factors
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Risk Factors
Certain risk factors increase your chances of becoming obese. Some you can change, and some you can’t.Risk factors you can’t modify include:Genetics. Your genes can affect how much body fat you store and where you store it, as well as how efficiently your body converts food into energy and how efficiently you burn calorie during exercise. Studies of adopted children have shown that they tend to put on weight in a way that’s more similar to their biological parents than their adoptive parents. But genes are just part of the problem. Obesity rates have taken off in just the last few decades—far too short a period of time for the human gene pool to have altered significantly!
Age. As we age we tend to become less active. Muscle mass tends to decrease with age, and hormonal changes encourage the accumulation of fat. Lower muscle mass also leads to a decrease in metabolism. If you don’t decrease your caloric intake as you get older, you’ll probably put on weight.
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Factors Affecting Weight & Health
What factors affect weight and health?
Many factors can affect your weight and lead to overweight or obesity. Some of these factors may make it hard for you to lose weight or avoid regaining weight that you’ve lost.
Family history and genes
Overweight and obesity tend to run in families, suggesting that genes may play a role. Your chances of being overweight are greater if one or both of your parents are overweight or have obesity. Your genes may affect the amount of fat you store in your body and where on your body you carry the extra fat.
Race or ethnicity
Some racial and ethnic minority groups are more likely to have obesity. Obesity rates in American adults are highest in African Americans, followed by Hispanics/Latinos, then Caucasians. This is true for men and women. While Asian American men and women have the lowest rates of obesity, they can still be at risk of diseases associated with obesity if they carry a lot of unhealthy fat in their abdomen—even when their body mass index (BMI) is lower.
Age
Many people gain weight as they age. Adults who have a normal BMI often start to gain weight in young adulthood and continue to gain weight until they are ages 60 to 65. In addition, children who have obesity are more likely to have obesity as adults.
Sex
In the United States, obesity is more common in black or Hispanic women than in black or Hispanic men. A person’s sex may also affect where the body stores fat. Women tend to build up fat in their hips and buttocks. Men usually build up fat in their abdomen or belly. Extra fat, particularly if it is around the abdomen, may put people at risk of health problems even if they have a normal weight.
Eating and physical activity habits
Your eating and physical activity habits may raise your chances of becoming overweight and having obesity if you
eat and drink a lot of foods and beverages that are high in calories, sugar, and fat
drink a lot of beverages that are high in added sugars
spend a lot of time sitting or lying down and have limited physical activity
Where you live, work, play, and worship
Where you live, work, play, and worship may affect your eating and physical activity habits, and access to healthy foods and places to be active.
For example, living in an area that has a high number of grocery stores can increase your access to better quality, lower calorie foods. Living in a neighborhood with a lot of green spaces and areas for safe physical activity may encourage you to be more physically active.
Where you work and worship may also make it easier for you to eat unhealthy, high-calorie foods. Vending machines, cafeterias, or special events at your workplace or place of worship may not offer healthy, lower calorie options. Whenever possible, choose the healthier options and limit your treats to a small sliver of pie or cake.
Family habits and culture
Family eating and lifestyle habits may affect your weight and health. Some families may consume foods and beverages that are high in fat, salt, and added sugars or eat large amounts of unhealthy foods at family gatherings. Some families may also spend a lot of inactive time watching TV, using a computer, or using a mobile device instead of being active.
Your social, ethnic, or religious group culture may also affect your weight and health because of shared eating and lifestyle habits. Some cultures may consume foods and beverages that are high in fat, salt, and added sugars. Some common food preparation methods, such as frying, may lead to high-calorie intake. Regularly consuming foods high in calories, fat, and sugar may lead to weight gain overtime.
Not enough sleep
People who don’t get enough sleep may eat more calories and snack more. Experts recommend that adults ages 18 to 64 get 7 to 9 hours of sleep a day, and that adults ages 65 and older get 7 to 8 hours of sleep a day.
Other factors
Other factors that can lead to weight gain include
certain medical conditions
certain medicines
binge eating disorder
stress
What makes it hard for some people to lose weight?
Many factors can make it hard to lose weight, including
your genes
what and how much you eat
not getting regular physical activity or being inactive
taking certain medicines
having certain medical conditions
Difficulty in managing stress
Source: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Causes
What Causes Obesity?
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What Causes Obesity?
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Causes of Obesity
Obesity is a complex disease that occurs when an individual’s weight is higher than what is considered healthy for his or her height. Obesity affects children as well as adults. Many factors can contribute to excess weight gain including eating patterns, physical activity levels, and sleep routines. Social determinants of health, genetics, and taking certain medications also play a role.
Food, Activity, and Sleep
Eating and physical activity patterns, insufficient sleep and several other factors influence excess weight gain.
Social Determinants of Health (SDOH)
The conditions in which we live, learn, work, and play are called social determinants of health (SDOH). It can be difficult to make healthy food choices and get enough physical activity if these conditions do not support health. Differences in SDOH affect chronic disease outcomes and risks, including obesity, among racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups as well as in different geographies and among people with different physical abilities.
Places such as childcare centers, schools, or communities affect eating patterns and activity through the foods and drinks they offer and the physical activity opportunities they provide. Other community factors that influence obesity include the affordability of healthy food options, peer and social supports, marketing and promotion, and policies that determine community design.
Genetics
Genetic changes in human populations occur too slowly to be responsible for the obesity epidemic. Yet variants in several genes may contribute to obesity by increasing hunger and food intake. Rarely, a specific variant of a single gene (monogenic obesity) causes a clear pattern of inherited obesity within a family.
Illnesses and Medications
Some illnesses, such as Cushing’s disease, may lead to obesity or weight gain. Drugs such as steroids and some antidepressants may also cause weight gain. Research continues on the role of other factors such as chemical exposures and the role of the microbiome.
What Can Be Done?
Eating Patterns
Healthy eating follows the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. It emphasizes a variety of vegetables and fruits, whole grains, a variety of lean protein foods, and low-fat and fat-free dairy products. It also limits foods and beverages with added sugars, solid fats, or sodium. See Healthy Eating for Healthy Weight.
Managers of worksites and public facilities can improve the nutritional quality of food and beverages available in those settings. See Food Service Guidelines Implementation Toolkit.
Physical Activity
The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommends that children aged 3 through 5 years should be physically active throughout the day. Children aged 6 – 17 years need at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day. Adults need 150 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity a week. See Physical Activity for Different Groups.
Communities can create or modify environments to make it easier for people to walk or bike to everyday destinations. See Community Strategies.
Sleep
Newborns need 14 to 17 hours of sleep per day. That amount decreases with age; teenagers need 8 to 10 hours of sleep per day, and adults need 7 or more hours of sleep per day. See How Much Sleep Do I Need?
Social Determinants of Health
State early care and education systems can promote standards that address nutrition, infant feeding, physical activity, and screen time. See Early Care and Education.
Communities, programs, initiatives, and public health practitioners can work to together to remove barriers to health and achieve health See Health Equity Resources.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
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Causes of Childhood Obesity
In the last three decades, obesity has doubled in children aged 2-5 and 12-19 and tripled in children aged 6-11. While genetics may well play a part in 25-85% of cases, heredity alone can't account for this sudden epidemic of obesity. The more likely scenario is that, over time, most humans evolved genes that helped us cope with times when food was scarce. But these genes are unsuited to the world we now live in, where high-calorie food is quickly and cheaply available.
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Body Insulation
Brain Makeup
Organ Protection
Sex Hormone Production
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Fat is Everywhere
See the various roles fat plays in the human body.
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Causes of Childhood Obesity
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Fat is Everywhere
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Am I at a Healthy Weight?
Normal BMI for Kids
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Normal BMI for Kids
Body mass index (BMI) is one way of finding out if your child (age 2-19) is at a healthy weight. There is no universal normal range for kids as there is for adults. That's because the normal amount of body fat changes with age and height and also depends on whether the child is a boy or a girl.
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Am I at a Healthy Weight?
How can I tell if I am at a healthy weight?
Knowing your body mass index (BMI), waist size, and waist-to-hip ratio can help you tell if you’re at a healthy weight.
Body mass index
The BMI is the tool most commonly used to estimate and screen for overweight and obesity in adults. BMI is a measure based on your weight in relation to your height. You can easily calculate your BMI.
Your BMI can tell if you are at a normal or healthy weight, are overweight, or have obesity. The greater your BMI, the greater your risk of health problems such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
Normal or healthy weight. A person with a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 is in the normal or healthy range.
Overweight. A person with a BMI of 25 to 29.9 is considered overweight.
Obesity. A person with a BMI of 30 to 39.9 is considered to have obesity.
Extreme obesity. A person with a BMI of 40 or greater is considered to have extreme obesity.
Because BMI doesn't measure actual body fat, a person who is very muscular, like a bodybuilder, may have a high BMI without having a lot of body fat. Also, some groups who tend to have a lower BMI, such as Asian men and women or older adults, may still have high amounts of body fat even if they are not overweight.
Waist size
Another important measure is your waist size. Having too much fat around your waist may raise your chances of health problems even more than having fat in other parts of your body. Women with a waist size of more than 35 inches and men with a waist size of more than 40 inches may be more likely to develop diseases related to obesity.
Women with a waist size of more than 35 inches may be more likely to develop diseases related to obesity.
Does my body shape matter?
Doctors are concerned not only with how much body fat you have, but where the fat is located on your body. Women tend to build up fat in their hips and buttocks, giving them a “pear” shape. Men usually build up fat in their abdomen, giving them more of an “apple” shape. Of course, some men are pear-shaped, and some women are apple-shaped.
Extra fat, especially in the abdomen, may put people at risk for certain health problems, even if they have a normal weight. People who are apple-shaped may be more likely to develop type 2 diabetes, heart disease, or certain types of cancer than people of the same weight who are pear-shaped.
When should I seek a doctor’s help?
You should seek a doctor’s help if you are gaining weight quickly, have a large waist size, or a BMI of 30 or greater. You should also seek a doctor’s help if you are overweight or have obesity and have
a family history of certain diseases, such as type 2 diabetes or heart disease
health problems such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, or metabolic syndrome
Source: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
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Overweight vs. Obese
Overweight vs. Obese : The way obesity is defined has changed over the years. Traditionally, obesity has been defined as a weight at least 20% above ideal weight; that is, the weight corresponding to the lowest death rate for individuals of a specific height, gender, and age. Mild obesity has been considered 20-40% over ideal weight, 40-100% over ideal weight moderately obese, and 100% over ideal weight severely, or morbidly, obese.
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Dr. Mark Liponis on waist-to-hip ratios
Your WHR divides the circumference of your waist by that of your hips. It is a good indication of how much abdominal fat you have. Having a large belly is a sign that you have too much dangerous visceral fat inside your abdomen.
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Overweight vs. Obese
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Dr. Mark Liponis on waist-to-hip ratios
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Defining Adult Overweight & Obesity
Body Mass Index (BMI) Calculation Table
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Body Mass Index (BMI) Calculation Table
Obesity and its health risks are a growing problem in the United States. It is estimated that more than two-thirds of adults are either overweight (10 to 30 pounds heavier than recommended) or obese (more than 30 pounts heavier than recommended). The number of overweight and obese school-age children is also on the rise. This is especially alarming given what is known about how obesity increases the risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease. A way to measure obesity is the BMI or body mass index, a measurement of weight categories based on height
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Defining Adult Overweight & Obesity
Weight that is higher than what is considered as a healthy weight for a given height is described as overweight or obesity. Body Mass Index, or BMI, is used as a screening tool for overweight or obesity.
Adult Body Mass Index (BMI)
Body Mass Index (BMI) is a person’s weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters. A high BMI can be an indicator of high body fatness.
To calculate BMI, see the Adult BMI Calculator or determine BMI by finding your height and weight in this BMI Index Chart.
If your BMI is less than 18.5, it falls within the underweight range.
If your BMI is 18.5 to <25, it falls within the normal.
If your BMI is 25.0 to <30, it falls within the overweight range.
If your BMI is 30.0 or higher, it falls within the obesity range.
Obesity is frequently subdivided into categories:
Class 1: BMI of 30 to < 35
Class 2: BMI of 35 to < 40
Class 3: BMI of 40 or higher. Class 3 obesity is sometimes categorized as “extreme” or “severe” obesity.
Note: At an individual level, BMI can be used as a screening tool but is not diagnostic of the body fatness or the health of an individual. A trained healthcare provider should perform appropriate health assessments in order to evaluate an individual’s health status and risks. If you have questions about your BMI, talk with your health care provider.
See the following table for an example.
Visit the Adult BMI Calculator to calculate BMI (for adults 20 years and older)
Adult Body Mass Index (BMI)
Adult Body Mass Index (BMI)
Height
Weight Range
BMI
Considered
5′ 9″
124 lbs or less
Below 18.5
Underweight
125 lbs to 168 lbs
18.5 to 24.9
Healthy weight
169 lbs to 202 lbs
25.0 to 29.9
Overweight
203 lbs or more
30 or higher
Obesity
271 lbs or more
40 or higher
Class 3 Obesity
BMI does not measure body fat directly, but research has shown that BMI is moderately correlated with more direct measures of body fat obtained from skinfold thickness measurements, bioelectrical impedance, underwater weighing, dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and other methods . Furthermore, BMI appears to be strongly correlated with various adverse health outcomes consistent with these more direct measures of body fatness.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Obesity Screening
Obesity Screening
Obesity screening checks whether extra body fat increases your risk for serious health problems. It uses your BMI (body mass index) to estimate body fat. Most adults and children ages 2 and older should be screened with a BMI at least once a year.
Obesity Screening
Obesity screening checks whether extra body fat increases your risk for serious health problems. It uses your BMI (body mass index) to estimate body fat. Most adults and children ages 2 and older should be screened with a BMI at least once a year.
Obesity screenings check for obesity and overweight in adults and children, starting as early as age 2. In general, having obesity and being overweight both mean that your weight is higher than what is considered healthy for your height:
Obesity means that you have too much body fat.
Overweight usually means that you have too much body fat. But the extra weight may come from muscle, bone, and/or holding too much water in your body.
Extra fat from obesity and overweight increases your risk of developing serious, long-lasting health problems, such as:
Heart and blood vessel diseases, including heart attack and stroke
High blood cholesterol
Type 2 diabetes
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
Arthritis
Certain types of cancer
The more fat you have, the higher your risk of developing these problems. Children who have obesity may develop many of the same health problems as adults with obesity. They are also more likely to have obesity in adulthood and develop serious health problems later in life.
Obesity screening helps find out if too much body fat could be a health concern for you. Measuring body fat is difficult and expensive. So, obesity screening estimates how much body fat you have. The estimate is made with a calculation called a BMI (body mass index).
BMI for adults ages 20 and older is calculated from height and weight information. The result is a number called a BMI score. Higher BMI scores are linked to larger amounts of body fat and a higher risk for certain health problems. For most adults:
A healthy weight is a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9
Overweight is a BMI between 25 and 29.9
Obesity is a BMI of 30 and above
BMI for children over age 2 and teens is also based on weight and height. But age and sex are part of figuring out if a child or teen has too much body fat. That's because the normal amount of body fat is different at each stage of growth. And the normal amount of fat is different for boys and girls.
To adjust for these differences, your child's BMI is compared to standard growth charts for children of their age and sex. The result is called a BMI percentile. For example, if your child's BMI is in the 25th percentile, it means that 25% percent of children the same age and sex have a lower BMI, and 75% percent have a higher BMI.
Because height and weight changes with growth, your child's BMI will be tracked over time to understand if obesity or overweight may be a health problem. For most children and teens:
A healthy weight is a BMI between the 5th and 85th percentile.
Overweight is a BMI between the 85th and 94th percentile.
Obesity is a BMI in the 95th percentile or higher.
A BMI is a fairly accurate way to screen most people for too much body fat, but it's not perfect. Your BMI can't tell if your weight is from extra fat or muscle. This means a very muscular person could have a BMI in the overweight range even though they don't have too much body fat.
Also, some people who have a healthy BMI may still have high amounts of body fat. This may be more common in groups that tend to have lower BMI scores, such as Asians and older adults who have lost muscle. Talk with your health care provider if you have questions about how accurate a BMI is for your body type.
An obesity screening with a BMI is used to find out if an adult or a child has an unhealthy body weight for their height. This helps a provider understand a person's risk for diseases that are linked to extra body fat. But obesity screening doesn't show the amount of fat a person has, and it can't diagnose any health conditions, so other tests may be needed.
A BMI may also be used to find out if weight-loss efforts are working.
Most adults and children ages 2 and older should be screened with a BMI at least once a year.
Yearly obesity screening tracks your BMI over time. If it gets higher, it usually means you're gaining extra fat. Even if your higher BMI stays in the healthy range, weight gain from fat can still increase your risk for weight-related diseases. Obesity screening can help catch weight gain early so you can take steps to control your weight before it harms your health.
If you already have obesity or are overweight, screening helps your provider monitor your risk for health problems related to body fat. Information about your risk level helps you and your provider consider the pros and cons of different weight-loss treatments.
An obesity screening is usually part of a routine checkup that includes a physical exam. Your provider will measure your height and weight. That information is usually entered into an online BMI calculator. If you know your height and weight, you can find your BMI online:
Use this BMI calculator for adults.
Use this BMI percentile calculator for children and teens.
Your provider may also use other tests to estimate how much body fat you have. These include:
A waist measurement. Adults who have too much fat around their abdomen (belly) have an increased risk of developing conditions related to obesity. Even if you have a healthy BMI, your risk may be high if your waist size is:
More than 40 inches for men
More than 35 inches for women who aren't pregnant
Skinfold measurements. A skinfold test measures the thickness of pinch of skin and fat at several places on your body. A special tool gently measures skinfolds on your belly, back, thigh, the back of your upper arm, and/or other places on your body. The results are used to estimate how much of your body is fat.
If your obesity screening shows that you may have too much body fat, your provider may ask questions to help find out why. This often includes discussing your:
Medical history and medicines you take. Some health conditions cause people to gain weight, such as metabolic syndrome, hypothyroidism, and polycystic ovary syndrome (in females only). Your provider may order blood tests to confirm or rule out these and other conditions.
Many medicines can cause weight gain, too. Examples include:
Certain antidepressants
Beta-blockers, which are used to treat high blood pressure
Steroids, which are often used to treat autoimmune disease
Certain diabetes medicines
Eating habits. Obesity and overweight develop over time when you take in more calories than you use. So, your provider will want to know how much you eat and drink. What you eat and drink matters, too. Too much saturated fat and sugar can cause weight gain.
Physical activity. A lack of physical activity is linked with weight gain. Your provider will want to know how much exercise you get and how much time you spend sitting.
Sleep habits. Not getting enough sleep or poor-quality sleep can make you more likely to overeat. That's because sleep affects hormones that control hunger.
Stress levels. Stress can affect your brain and trigger changes in your hormones that make you eat more and store more fat.
Family history. You're more likely to become obese if close family members have obesity. You may have inherited genes that affect weight. The eating and exercise habits of the people around you can affect your habits and weight, too.
You don't need to prepare for an obesity screening. If you're also having certain blood tests to learn more about your health, you may need to fast (not eat or drink) for a period of time. Your provider will let you know how to prepare.
There is no risk to having a BMI or a measurement of your waist or skinfolds.
If an obesity screening shows that you have obesity or are overweight, your provider will work with you to develop a treatment plan. The goal of the plan is to reduce your risk of health problems linked to extra body fat.
Your plan will depend on how much weight you need to lose and the cause of your weight gain. Most plans are likely to include lifestyle changes, such as:
Eating a healthier, lower calorie diet
Getting more exercise
Getting enough good-quality sleep
Depending on your BMI and health, you provider may also suggest:
Support from a dietary or nutritional counselor
A behavioral weight-loss treatment program
Prescription weight-loss medicines combined with lifestyle changes
Weight loss surgery or devices, such as balloons, that are put in the stomach to help you lose weight
If you have questions about obesity screening or treatments to lower your BMI, talk with your provider.
Obesity Screening: MedlinePlus Medical Test [accessed on Jul 05, 2023]
Body Mass Index
Body Mass Index
Also called: BMI, Quetelet Index
Body mass index (BMI) is an estimate of body fat calculated from a person's height and weight. It is used to screen for weight categories that may lead to health problems. The higher your BMI, the higher your risk for certain diseases such as heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, gallstones, breathing problems, and certain cancers.
Body Mass Index
Also called: BMI, Quetelet Index
Body mass index (BMI) is an estimate of body fat calculated from a person's height and weight. It is used to screen for weight categories that may lead to health problems. The higher your BMI, the higher your risk for certain diseases such as heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, gallstones, breathing problems, and certain cancers.
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Use the slider below to see how your results affect your
health.
kg/(m<sup>2</sup>)
18.5
25
30
35
40
Your result is Healthy.
A BMI of 18 - 25 indicates that you are at a healthy weight for your height. By maintaining a healthy weight, you lower your risk of developing serious health problems.
Related conditions
Body mass index (BMI) is a person’s weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters. BMI is an inexpensive and easy screening method for weight category—underweight, healthy weight, overweight, and obesity.
BMI does not measure body fat directly, but BMI is moderately correlated with more direct measures of body fat. Furthermore, BMI appears to be as strongly correlated with various metabolic and disease outcome as are these more direct measures of body fatness.
BMI can be a screening tool, but it does not diagnose the body fatness or health of an individual. To determine if BMI is a health risk, a healthcare provider performs further assessments. Such assessments include skinfold thickness measurements, evaluations of diet, physical activity, and family history.
BMI is calculated the same way for both adults and children. The calculation is based on the following formulas:
Measurement Units
Formula and Calculation
Kilograms and meters (or centimeters)
Formula: weight (kg) / [height (m)]2
With the metric system, the formula for BMI is weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. Because height is commonly measured in centimeters, divide height in centimeters by 100 to obtain height in meters.
Example: Weight = 68 kg, Height = 165 cm (1.65 m) Calculation: 68 ÷ (1.65)2 = 24.98
Pounds and inches
Formula: weight (lb) / [height (in)]2 x 703
Calculate BMI by dividing weight in pounds (lbs) by height in inches (in) squared and multiplying by a conversion factor of 703.
For adults 20 years old and older, BMI is interpreted using standard weight status categories. These categories are the same for men and women of all body types and ages.
BMI
Weight Status
Below 18.5
Underweight
18.5 – 24.9
Normal or Healthy Weight
25.0 – 29.9
Overweight
30.0 and Above
Obese
BMI is interpreted differently for children and teens, even though it is calculated using the same formula as adult BMI. Children and teen’s BMI need to be age and sex-specific because the amount of body fat changes with age and the amount of body fat differs between girls and boys. The CDC BMI-for-age growth charts take into account these differences and visually show BMI as a percentile ranking. These percentiles were determined using representative data of the US population of 2- to 19-year-olds that was collected in various surveys from 1963-65 to 1988-94.
The correlation between the BMI and body fatness is fairly strong, but even if 2 people have the same BMI, their level of body fatness may differ.
In general,
At the same BMI, women tend to have more body fat than men.
At the same BMI, Blacks have less body fat than do Whites, and Asians have more body fat than do Whites
At the same BMI, older people, on average, tend to have more body fat than younger adults.
At the same BMI, athletes have less body fat than do non-athletes.
The accuracy of BMI as an indicator of body fatness also appears to be higher in persons with higher levels of BMI and body fatness. While, a person with a very high BMI (e.g., 35 kg/m2) is very likely to have high body fat, a relatively high BMI can be the results of either high body fat or high lean body mass (muscle and bone). A trained healthcare provider should perform appropriate health assessments in order to evaluate an individual’s health status and risks.
According to the BMI weight status categories, anyone with a BMI between 25 and 29.9 would be classified as overweight and anyone with a BMI over 30 would be classified as obese.
However, athletes may have a high BMI because of increased muscularity rather than increased body fatness. In general, a person who has a high BMI is likely to have body fatness and would be considered to be overweight or obese, but this may not apply to athletes. A trained healthcare provider should perform appropriate health assessments in order to evaluate an individual’s health status and risks.
People who have obesity are at increased risk for many diseases and health conditions, including the following:
All-causes of death (mortality)
High blood pressure (Hypertension)
High LDL cholesterol, low HDL cholesterol, or high levels of triglycerides (Dyslipidemia)
Type 2 diabetes
Coronary heart disease
Stroke
Gallbladder disease
Osteoarthritis (a breakdown of cartilage and bone within a joint)
Sleep apnea and breathing problems
Chronic inflammation and increased oxidative stress
Some cancers (endometrial, breast, colon, kidney, gallbladder, and liver)
Low quality of life
Mental illness such as clinical depression, anxiety, and other mental disorders
Body pain and difficulty with physical functioning
Normal reference ranges can vary depending on the laboratory and the method used for testing. You must use the range supplied by the laboratory that performed your test to evaluate whether your results are "within normal limits."
Additional Materials (20)
Normal BMI for Kids
Body mass index (BMI) is one way of finding out if your child (age 2-19) is at a healthy weight. There is no universal normal range for kids as there is for adults. That's because the normal amount of body fat changes with age and height and also depends on whether the child is a boy or a girl.
Image by TheVisualMD
Body Mass Index
8 women with the same Body Mass Index rating (BMI - 30) but with different weight distribution and abdominal volume, so they have different Body Volume Index(BVI) ratings.
Image by Richard2902 at en.wikipedia
Body Mass Index
A woman's two bare feet standing on a bathroom scale with a glass-topped surface on a tile floor. Toenails are painted red. Image supports content advising readers to set goals regarding improvements to their health and well-being, including maintaining a healthy weight and nutritious diet, and getting adequate exercise
Image by Bill Branson, NIH
Body Mass Index
Image by BruceBlaus
Woman on scale
A woman's two bare feet standing on a bathroom scale with a glass-topped surface on a tile floor. Toenails are painted red. Image supports content advising readers to set goals regarding improvements to their health and well-being, including maintaining a healthy weight and nutritious diet, and getting adequate exercise
Image by TheVisualMD
Weight Loss | How To Calculate BMI | StreamingWell.com
Video by streamingwell/YouTube
Why BMI Is BS
Video by Seeker/YouTube
Body Mass Index (BMI)
Obesity and its health risks are a growing problem in the United States. It is estimated that more than two-thirds of adults are either overweight (10 to 30 pounds heavier than recommended) or obese (more than 30 pounts heavier than recommended). The number of overweight and obese school-age children is also on the rise. This is especially alarming given what is known about how obesity increases the risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease. A way to measure obesity is the BMI or body mass index, a measurement of weight categories based on height.
Image by TheVisualMD
BMI Calculator For Women And Men & What is BMI ?
Video by KidandParent/YouTube
Roux en-Y Gastric Bypass, with Introduction on Body Mass Index, Animation.
Video by Alila Medical Media/YouTube
Calculate your own body mass index | Miscellaneous | Heatlh & Medicine | Khan Academy
Video by khanacademymedicine/YouTube
The Skinny on Obesity (Ep. 1): An Epidemic for Every Body
Video by UCTVTips/YouTube
Our Supersized Kids
Video by KSPS Public TV/YouTube
Four body types to show classes of body mass index
Drawing of four body types to show classes of body mass index.
Image by NIDDK Image Library
Breaking Down Under Pressure
When you’re obese (body mass index of over 30), you greatly raise your risk of developing OA, especially of the knee. Women who are overweight women have four times the risk and overweight men have five times the risk of developing knee OA as people of normal body weight.
Image by TheVisualMD
Body mass index chart
Graph of body mass index showing the various divisions.
Image by InvictaHOG/Wikimedia
Underweight - Body image rating scale for men and women.
Figure 1. Body image rating scale for men and women. Images 1 through 5 represent people who are underweight, images 6 through 9 represent people of normal weight, images 10 through 13 represent overweight people, and images 14 through18 represent obese people (11).
Image by CDC / Ettarh R et al.
Overweight Man Holding Beer Bottle
Three-dimensional visualization reconstructed from scanned human data. Lateral view of head and torso of overweight man with large belly holding beer bottle; the skeleton and internal organs are visible. Regular beer drinkers tend to be overweight or obese, due to the high number of calories alcohol contributes to their diet. A body mass index (BMI) is a measure of body fat calculated by dividing a person's body weight in kilograms by the square of their height in meters, and is considered useful in determining health risks associated with being overweight or obese. A normal body mass index (BMI) is considered to be under 25, while overweight is under 30; anything greater than a value of 30 is considered to be obese. Overweight and obese individuals are at increased risk for many health conditions and diseases such as hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, sleep problems, gallbladder disease, sexual dysfunction, and some cancers.
Image by TheVisualMD
Obese Woman, cross section
Traditionally, obesity has been defined as a weight at least 20% above ideal weight. More recent guidelines call for classifying obesity by using the body mass index (BMI). BMI is calculated based on your height and weight. However, BMI may classify as obese some people who aren't overweight but who are heavily muscled or big-boned. It also doesn't take into account the person's age. Waist-to-hip ratios (WHR) may be a better indication of disease risk, because they indicate if you have a lot of dangerous visceral fat inside your abdomen. Some doctors feel it's possible to be classified as obese and still be physically fit.
Image by TheVisualMD
US Navy 110426-N-00332-114 Students measure the height and body weight of fourth and fifth grade students from Lindenwood Elementary School
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (April 26, 2011) Logistics Specialist 1st Class Alhaji M. Kabba, a command fitness leader aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71), measures the height and body weight of a student from Lindenwood Elementary School. Sailors assigned to Theodore Roosevelt spent 10 weeks mentoring the students about the Navy's culture of fitness to prepare them for participation in the Navy Physical Fitness Assessment. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Cory C. Asato/Released)
Image by U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Cory C. Asato/Wikimedia
Normal BMI for Kids
TheVisualMD
Body Mass Index
Richard2902 at en.wikipedia
Body Mass Index
Bill Branson, NIH
Body Mass Index
BruceBlaus
Woman on scale
TheVisualMD
4:22
Weight Loss | How To Calculate BMI | StreamingWell.com
streamingwell/YouTube
3:02
Why BMI Is BS
Seeker/YouTube
Body Mass Index (BMI)
TheVisualMD
1:05
BMI Calculator For Women And Men & What is BMI ?
KidandParent/YouTube
3:55
Roux en-Y Gastric Bypass, with Introduction on Body Mass Index, Animation.
Alila Medical Media/YouTube
7:21
Calculate your own body mass index | Miscellaneous | Heatlh & Medicine | Khan Academy
khanacademymedicine/YouTube
12:16
The Skinny on Obesity (Ep. 1): An Epidemic for Every Body
UCTVTips/YouTube
30:00
Our Supersized Kids
KSPS Public TV/YouTube
Four body types to show classes of body mass index
NIDDK Image Library
Breaking Down Under Pressure
TheVisualMD
Body mass index chart
InvictaHOG/Wikimedia
Underweight - Body image rating scale for men and women.
CDC / Ettarh R et al.
Overweight Man Holding Beer Bottle
TheVisualMD
Obese Woman, cross section
TheVisualMD
US Navy 110426-N-00332-114 Students measure the height and body weight of fourth and fifth grade students from Lindenwood Elementary School
U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Cory C. Asato/Wikimedia
Body Mass Index in Children and Teens
Body Mass Index in Children and Teens
Also called: Pediatric BMI, Pediatric Quetelet Index, BMI Percentile, BMI-for-age
Body mass index (BMI) is an estimate of body fat calculated from a person's height and weight. For children and teens, BMI is age- and sex-specific and is often referred to as BMI-for-age. BMI-for-age is the measure that can be used continuously from age 2 to 20 years to screen for obesity, overweight, or underweight.
Body Mass Index in Children and Teens
Also called: Pediatric BMI, Pediatric Quetelet Index, BMI Percentile, BMI-for-age
Body mass index (BMI) is an estimate of body fat calculated from a person's height and weight. For children and teens, BMI is age- and sex-specific and is often referred to as BMI-for-age. BMI-for-age is the measure that can be used continuously from age 2 to 20 years to screen for obesity, overweight, or underweight.
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Use the slider below to see how your results affect your
health.
{percentile}
5
85
95
Your result is Healthy Weight.
A BMI-for-age between the 5th percentile to less than the 85th percentile indicates that your child is at a healthy weight for the height.
Related conditions
Body mass index (BMI) is a person’s weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters. It is an inexpensive and easy-to-perform method of screening for weight categories that may lead to health problems.
For children and teens, BMI is age- and sex-specific and is often referred to as BMI-for-age. In children, a high amount of body fat can lead to weight-related diseases and other health issues. Being underweight can also put one at risk for health issues.
A high BMI can indicate high body fatness. BMI does not measure body fat directly, but BMI is correlated with more direct measures of body fat.
After BMI is calculated for children and teens, it is expressed as a percentile obtained from either a graph or a percentile calculator linked below. These percentiles express a child’s BMI relative to US children who participated in national surveys from 1963-65 to 1988-94. Weight and height change during growth and development, as does their relation to body fatness. Consequently, a child’s BMI must be interpreted relative to other children of the same sex and age.
The BMI-for-age percentile growth charts are the most commonly used indicator to measure the size and growth patterns of children and teens in the United States. BMI-for-age weight status categories and the corresponding percentiles were based on expert committee recommendations and are shown in the following table.
BMI-for-age weight status categories and the corresponding percentiles
Weight Status Category
Percentile Range
Underweight
Less than the 5th percentile
Healthy Weight
5th percentile to less than the 85th percentile
Overweight
85th to less than the 95th percentile
Obesity
Equal to or greater than the 95th percentile
The following is an example of how sample BMI numbers would be interpreted for a 10-year-old boy.
For children and teens, BMI is not a diagnostic tool. Instead it is used to screen for potential weight and health-related issues. If children have a high BMI for their age and sex, a health care provider may perform further assessments to determine if excess fat is a problem. These assessments might include skinfold thickness measurements, evaluations of diet, physical activity, family history, and other appropriate health screenings. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends using BMI to screen for overweight and obesity in children beginning at 2 years old. For children under the age of 2 years old, consult the World Health Organization (WHO) standards.
BMI is interpreted differently for children and teens even though it is calculated with the same formula. Due to changes in weight and height with age, as well as their relation to body fatness, BMI levels among children and teens are expressed relative to other children of the same sex and age. These percentiles are calculated from the CDC growth charts, which were based on national survey data collected from 1963-65 to 1988-94.
Obesity is defined as a BMI at or above the 95th percentile for children and teens of the same age and sex. For example, a 10-year-old boy of average height (56 inches) who weighs 102 pounds would have a BMI of 22.9 kg/m2. This would place the boy in the 95th percentile for BMI, and he would be considered to have obesity. This means that the child’s BMI is greater than the BMI of 95% of 10-year-old boys in the reference population.
Healthy weight status is based on BMI between the 5th and 85th percentile on the CDC growth chart. It is difficult to provide healthy weight ranges for children and teens because the interpretation of BMI depends on weight, height, age, and sex.
The prevalence of children and teens who measure in the 95th percentile or greater on the CDC growth charts has greatly increased over the past 40 years. Recently, however, this trend has leveled off and has even declined in certain age groups.
CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommend the use of BMI to screen for overweight and obesity in children and teens age 2 through 19 years. For children under the age of 2 years old, consult the WHO standards. Although BMI is used to screen for overweight and obesity in children and teens, BMI is not a diagnostic tool. To determine whether the child has excess fat, further assessment by a trained health professional would be needed.
In general, this is not possible. The adult calculator provides only the BMI value and not the BMI percentile. Consequently, it is not appropriate to use the BMI categories for adults to interpret the BMI of children and teens.
However, if a child or teen has a BMI of 30 kg/m2 or higher, the child almost certainly has obesity. A BMI of 30 kg/m2 is approximately the 95th percentile among 17-year-old girls and 18-year-old boys.
The interpretation of BMI varies by age and sex. So if the children are not the same age and the same sex, the interpretation of BMI has different meanings. For children of different age and sex, the same BMI could represent different BMI percentiles and possibly different weight status categories.
See the following graphic for an example for a 10-year-old boy and a 15-year-old boy who both have a BMI-for-age of 23. (Note that two children of different ages are plotted on the same growth chart to illustrate a point. Normally the measurement for only one child is plotted on a growth chart.)
Obesity during childhood can harm the body in a variety of ways. Children who have obesity are more likely to have:
High blood pressure and high cholesterol, which are risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
Increased risk of impaired glucose tolerance, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes.
Breathing problems, such as asthma and sleep apnea.
Joint problems and musculoskeletal discomfort.
Fatty liver disease, gallstones, and gastro-esophageal reflux (i.e., heartburn).
Childhood obesity is also related to:
Psychological problems such as anxiety and depression.
Low self-esteem and lower self-reported quality of life.
Social problems such as bullying and stigma.
[accessed on Feb 05, 2022]
Childhood Obesity Causes & Consequences | Overweight & Obesity | CDC [accessed on Feb 05, 2022]
Normal reference ranges can vary depending on the laboratory and the method used for testing. You must use the range supplied by the laboratory that performed your test to evaluate whether your results are "within normal limits."
Additional Materials (14)
Overweight, Underweight, Just Right
One tool that may be used in evaluating body composition for children and teens (age 2-19) is the body mass index (BMI). BMI is calculated differently for children and teens than for adults because, in children, the normal amount of body fat changes with age and also differs between girls and boys. (Adult BMI calculators don’t take into account age or sex.) There is no universal normal range as there is with BMI for adults. provides BMI and the corresponding BMI-for-age percentile on a BMI-for-age growth chart. It’s important to remember that BMI is not a diagnostic tool. It only indicates the possible presence of a weight problem. If your child’s BMI number is in the unhealthy range, he or she should be taken to a healthcare professional. Further assessments may then be done, such as plotting weight and height on a growth chart, measuring skinfold thickness with a caliper, evaluating physical activity and eating habits, and looking at family history.
Image by TheVisualMD
BMI-for-age – Boys Growth Chart
The BMI-for-age percentile growth charts are the most commonly used indicator to measure the size and growth patterns of children and teens in the United States.
Document by CDC
BMI-for-age – Girls Growth Chart
The BMI-for-age percentile growth charts are the most commonly used indicator to measure the size and growth patterns of children and teens in the United States.
Document by CDC
Our Supersized Kids
Video by KSPS Public TV/YouTube
Why BMI Is BS
Video by Seeker/YouTube
Overweight/Obese Adult, teenager and child with visible inner anatomy
Overweight/Obese Adult, teenager and child with visible inner anatomy
Image by TheVisualMD
Obesity Prevention Begins in Childhood
Obesity in children has risen dramatically worldwide. Worldwide, an estimated 1 in 10 children is overweight, a total of 155 million. Of those children, 30-45 million are obese. By 2010, nearly half of the children in North and South America and about 38% of the children in the European Union will be overweight.
Photo of Child: Copyright 2007, Emer & Sam
Image by TheVisualMD
A Global Epidemic
Childhood obesity is an epidemic around the globe. In the US, an estimated 17% of children and adolescents ages 2-19 are obese. In the last three decades, the percentage of obese children doubled in children ages 2-5 and tripled in children and adolescents ages 6-19. Up to 80% of obese youth become obese adults, who are at high risk for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease—the leading cause of death in North America. In the European Union, about 30% of all children are overweight, and over 5 million of them are obese. Some 300,000 children in the EU become obese each year. But obesity is no longer a problem that affects only children in the developed world. The easy availability of cheap, high-calorie, low-nutrition food, along with less-active lifestyles, have made childhood obesity a major health issue in countries all over the world, including China, Brazil, Thailand, South Africa, and many others. Globally, about 10% of all children ages 5-17 are overweight, and 2-3% in that age group are obese, according to the International Obesity Task Force. Obese kids are more likely to be depressed and have low self-esteem, sleep apnea, insulin resistance, and even type 2 diabetes. If your child has a weight problem, you have reason to be concerned. But there are many ways you can help. With your support, your child can get healthy—and stay healthy.
Image by TheVisualMD
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome?
Side view of an overweight (195 lbs) 16-year old boy's stomach.
Image by OctoMocto
Consequences of Childhood Obesity
Consequences of Childhood Obesity : Even though overweight kids tend to have denser bones, they have more bone fractures than nonoverweight children. This may be because being overweight interferes with balance and also because overweight children fall with greater force.
Image by TheVisualMD
Adding to the Burden
Even though overweight kids tend to have denser bones, they have more bone fractures than nonoverweight children. This may be because being overweight interferes with balance and also because overweight children fall with greater force.
Image by TheVisualMD
Obesity and Related Health Problems
Obesity and Related Health Problems : Overweight and obese children are more likely to have gastrointestinal (digestive) disorders, including nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, constipation, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and gallstones.
Image by TheVisualMD
Fit Food
You want your child to be fit and healthy for a whole lifetime. That’s why it’s so important for you to start helping him or her to develop healthy eating habits now. Changing habits is easier when you’re young. What’s more, tackling overweight early on can prevent many or all of the devastating medical effects of obesity.
Image by TheVisualMD
Child nutrition
child nutrition - Picnic time
Image by dhanelle
Overweight, Underweight, Just Right
TheVisualMD
BMI-for-age – Boys Growth Chart
CDC
BMI-for-age – Girls Growth Chart
CDC
30:00
Our Supersized Kids
KSPS Public TV/YouTube
3:02
Why BMI Is BS
Seeker/YouTube
Overweight/Obese Adult, teenager and child with visible inner anatomy
TheVisualMD
Obesity Prevention Begins in Childhood
TheVisualMD
A Global Epidemic
TheVisualMD
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome?
OctoMocto
Consequences of Childhood Obesity
TheVisualMD
Adding to the Burden
TheVisualMD
Obesity and Related Health Problems
TheVisualMD
Fit Food
TheVisualMD
Child nutrition
dhanelle
Waist Circumference Test
Waist Circumference Test
Also called: Waist Size
Measuring waist circumference helps screen for possible health risks that come with overweight and obesity. If most of your fat is around your waist rather than at your hips, you’re at a higher risk for heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
Waist Circumference Test
Also called: Waist Size
Measuring waist circumference helps screen for possible health risks that come with overweight and obesity. If most of your fat is around your waist rather than at your hips, you’re at a higher risk for heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
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Use the slider below to see how your results affect your
health.
37
40
Your result is Low risk.
Related conditions
Another way to estimate your potential disease risk is to measure your waist circumference. Excessive abdominal fat may be serious because it places you at greater risk for developing obesity-related conditions, such as Type 2 Diabetes, high blood pressure, and coronary artery disease. Your waistline may be telling you that you have a higher risk of developing obesity-related conditions if you are:
A man whose waist circumference is more than 40 inches
A non-pregnant woman whose waist circumference is more than 35 inches
Waist circumference can be used as a screening tool but is not diagnostic of the body fatness or health of an individual. A trained healthcare provider should perform appropriate health assessments in order to evaluate an individual’s health status and risks.
To correctly measure waist circumference:
Stand and place a tape measure around your middle, just above your hipbones
Make sure tape is horizontal around the waist
Keep the tape snug around the waist, but not compressing the skin
Measure your waist just after you breathe out
Assessing Your Weight and Health Risk | National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) [accessed on Feb 05, 2022]
Assessing Your Weight | Healthy Weight, Nutrition, and Physical Activity | CDC [accessed on Feb 05, 2022]
Healthy Weight | CDC [accessed on Feb 05, 2022]
Measuring your waist - Heart Matters | BHF [accessed on Feb 05, 2022]
Normal reference ranges can vary depending on the laboratory and the method used for testing. You must use the range supplied by the laboratory that performed your test to evaluate whether your results are "within normal limits."
Additional Materials (1)
Waist Circumference, Male
Extra weight around the midsection, or \"belly fat,\" is associated with a higher risk of health problems such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. This image indicates the midsection region with a blue circle for easy reference. The man in this figure is of a healthy weight and has a lean waist circumference.
Image by TheVisualMD
Waist Circumference, Male
TheVisualMD
Waist-To-Hip Ratio
Waist-To-Hip Ratio
Also called: WHR
Waist-to-hip ratio is a measurement that compares the size of your hips to the size of your waist. It is an important tool to help determine the overall health risk. People with more weight around their waist are at greater risk of lifestyle-related diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes, than those with weight around their hips.
Waist-To-Hip Ratio
Also called: WHR
Waist-to-hip ratio is a measurement that compares the size of your hips to the size of your waist. It is an important tool to help determine the overall health risk. People with more weight around their waist are at greater risk of lifestyle-related diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes, than those with weight around their hips.
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Use the slider below to see how your results affect your
health.
{ratio}
0.8
0.85
Your result is Optimal.
A value in this range has been shown to correlate strongly with general health and fertility. It also indicates a "pear-shaped" body type.
Related conditions
Waist-to-hip ratio is a measurement that compares the size of your hips to the size of your waist. In healthy adults, the waist measurement should be smaller than the hip measurement. Having a larger waist, or belly, may be a sign that you have too much dangerous visceral fat—that's fat that sits deep inside of your belly and surrounds your organs. It may also indicate that you have too much fat in your liver. Because the presence of excess visceral and liver fat can indicate a higher risk for obesity related diseases, including cardiovascular disease, some researchers feel that waist-to-hip ratio is a better risk assessment tool than BMI.
Measure your waist with a non-stretchable measuring tape at the narrowest point between your hip bones and your lower rib. Then move the tape down to your hip at the widest point around your buttocks and measure. Divide your waist measurement by your hip measurement (waist ÷ hip).
Males with a ratio below 0.95 and females with a ratio below 0.8 are at low risk of complications from excess visceral fat. Males above 1.0 and females above 0.85 are at high risk. Any ratio falling in between is considered moderate risk.
Gender/Health Risk
Low
Moderate
High
Women
0.80 or below
0.81 to 0.85
0.85 or more
Men
0.95 or below
0.96 to 1.0
1.0 or more
Body shape
Pear
Avocado
Apple
Doctors are concerned not only with how much body fat you have, but where the fat is located on your body. Women tend to build up fat in their hips and buttocks, giving them a "pear" shape. Men usually build up fat in their abdomen, giving them more of an "apple" shape. Of course, some men are pear-shaped, and some women are apple-shaped.
Extra fat, especially in the abdomen, may put people at risk for certain health problems, even if they have a normal weight. People who are apple-shaped may be more likely to develop type 2 diabetes, heart disease, or certain types of cancer than people of the same weight who are pear-shaped.
Limitations of the waist-to-hip ratio measurement:
More prone to measurement error because it requires two measurements
More difficult to measure the hip than the waist
More complex to interpret, since increased waist-to-hip ratio can be caused by increased abdominal fat or by decreased lean muscle around the hips
Turning the measurements into a ratio leads to a loss of information: two people with very different BMIs could have the same waist-to-hip ratio
May be difficult to measure and less accurate in individuals with a BMI of 35 or higher
Strenghts of the waist-to-hip ratio measurement:
Good correlation with body fat as measured by the most accurate methods
Inexpensive
Studies show waist-to-hip ratio predicts development of disease and death in adults
National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). Am I at a Healthy Weight? [accessed on Nov 20, 2018]
TheVisualMD & Alexander Tsiaras. TheVisualMD Diet A Scientific Approach to Weight Loss & Vitality. [accessed on Nov 20, 2018]
Medical News Today. Why is the hip-waist ratio important? [accessed on Nov 20, 2018]
Waist circumference and waist–hip ratio Report of a WHO expert consultation, Geneva, 8-11 December 2008. [accessed on Nov 20, 2018]
Apples & pears : the body shape solution for weight loss and wellness / Marie Savard, with Carol Svec. [accessed on Nov 20, 2018]
Health Jade. Waist Hip Ratio. [accessed on Nov 20, 2018]
Normal reference ranges can vary depending on the laboratory and the method used for testing. You must use the range supplied by the laboratory that performed your test to evaluate whether your results are "within normal limits."
Additional Materials (13)
Waist-Hip Ratio
Image illustrating the measurement of the parameters of waist-hip ratio.
Image by Mikael Haggstrom, from original works by SuicideGirls and FatM1ke
Waist-Hip Ratio
Image illustrating the measurement of the parameters of waist-hip ratio.
Image by TheVisualMD
Obese Woman, cross section
Traditionally, obesity has been defined as a weight at least 20% above ideal weight. More recent guidelines call for classifying obesity by using the body mass index (BMI). BMI is calculated based on your height and weight. However, BMI may classify as obese some people who aren't overweight but who are heavily muscled or big-boned. It also doesn't take into account the person's age. Waist-to-hip ratios (WHR) may be a better indication of disease risk, because they indicate if you have a lot of dangerous visceral fat inside your abdomen. Some doctors feel it's possible to be classified as obese and still be physically fit.
Image by TheVisualMD
Taking Your Measure
Image by TheVisualMD
Taking Your Measure
Image by TheVisualMD
Coronal section of a lean body
A coronal section of a woman's lean body, with visible muscle tissue, visceral and subcutaneous fat, and some bones and organs. Image supports content showing the positive effects on health that result from good decision-making and habit-forming practices.
Image by TheVisualMD
This browser does not support the video element.
Dr. Mark Liponis on waist-to-hip ratios
Your WHR divides the circumference of your waist by that of your hips. It is a good indication of how much abdominal fat you have. Having a large belly is a sign that you have too much dangerous visceral fat inside your abdomen.
Video by TheVisualMD
How do you measure your waist?
Video by British Heart Foundation/YouTube
What Body Shape You Are Says A Lot About Your Weight
Video by Tech Insider/YouTube
The ACAP Recap: Waist Circumference
Video by ACAP Health/YouTube
Tri HDL
Video by ACAP Health/YouTube
Understanding your weight
Video by British Heart Foundation/YouTube
How to measure your waist
Video by Bupa Health UK/YouTube
Waist-Hip Ratio
Mikael Haggstrom, from original works by SuicideGirls and FatM1ke
Waist-Hip Ratio
TheVisualMD
Obese Woman, cross section
TheVisualMD
Taking Your Measure
TheVisualMD
Taking Your Measure
TheVisualMD
Coronal section of a lean body
TheVisualMD
1:03
Dr. Mark Liponis on waist-to-hip ratios
TheVisualMD
0:32
How do you measure your waist?
British Heart Foundation/YouTube
2:30
What Body Shape You Are Says A Lot About Your Weight
Tech Insider/YouTube
2:33
The ACAP Recap: Waist Circumference
ACAP Health/YouTube
2:17
Tri HDL
ACAP Health/YouTube
2:31
Understanding your weight
British Heart Foundation/YouTube
0:42
How to measure your waist
Bupa Health UK/YouTube
Cortisol Test
Cortisol Test
Also called: Cortisol Levels
A cortisol test measures the level of cortisol in your blood, urine, or saliva. Cortisol is a hormone that helps your body respond to stress, regulate blood sugar, and fight infections. Maintaining an adequate balance of cortisol is essential for health.
Cortisol Test
Also called: Cortisol Levels
A cortisol test measures the level of cortisol in your blood, urine, or saliva. Cortisol is a hormone that helps your body respond to stress, regulate blood sugar, and fight infections. Maintaining an adequate balance of cortisol is essential for health.
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Use the slider below to see how your results affect your
health.
μg/dL
5
25
Your result is Normal.
Normally, the body produces the right amount of cortisol to keep it healthy. Cortisol is a hormone that helps the body respond to stress, regulate blood sugar, and fight infections.
Related conditions
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Use the slider below to see how your results affect your
health.
μg/h
10
55
Your result is Normal.
Normal values for cortisol in a urine test are 10 to 55 micrograms per day (24 hours).
Related conditions
A cortisol test measures the level of cortisol in your blood, urine, or saliva to see if your levels are normal. Cortisol is a hormone that affects almost every organ and tissue in your body. It helps your body:
Respond to stress (cortisol is sometimes called the "stress hormone")
Reduce inflammation
Regulate blood sugar and metabolism (how your body uses food for energy)
Control blood pressure
Cortisol is made by your adrenal glands, two small glands that sit above the kidneys. A gland in your brain, called the pituitary gland, makes a hormone that tells your adrenal glands how much cortisol to make. If your cortisol levels are too high or too low, it may mean you have a disorder of your adrenal glands, a problem with your pituitary gland, or a tumor that makes cortisol.
High levels of cortisol may also happen if you take large doses of certain steroid medicines, such as prednisone, for a long time. And low levels may happen if you stop the medicine suddenly.
Without treatment, cortisol levels that are too high or too low can be very serious.
A cortisol test is used to help diagnose medical conditions that cause too much or too little cortisol. These conditions include disorders that affect the adrenal glands:
Cushing's syndrome is a disorder that happens when your body has too much cortisol over a long period of time.
Addison disease is a condition in which your adrenal glands are damaged and can't make enough cortisol.
Secondary adrenal insufficiency is a condition in which your adrenal glands don't make enough cortisol because your pituitary gland isn't working properly.
Cortisol testing is also used to monitor treatment for these conditions.
You may need a cortisol test if you have symptoms of a condition that affects cortisol levels.
Symptoms of Cushing's syndrome (too much cortisol) may include:
Weight gain
Thin arms and legs
Round face
Increased fat around the base of the neck or between the shoulder blades
Easy bruising
Wide purple streaks on the stomach, breasts, hips, and under the arms
Muscle weakness
Common symptoms of Addison disease and adrenal insufficiency (not enough cortisol) may include:
Long-lasting fatigue
Muscle weakness
Loss of appetite
Weight loss
Abdominal (belly) pain
A cortisol test often uses a sample of blood drawn at a lab. But the test may also be done on urine or saliva collected at home. Normally, cortisol levels vary during the day, so your provider may order more than one type of test to get more information about your cortisol levels.
For a blood test, a health care professional will take a blood sample from a vein in your arm, using a small needle. After the needle is inserted, a small amount of blood will be collected into a test tube or vial. You may feel a little sting when the needle goes in or out. This usually takes less than five minutes.
Blood samples are usually taken twice during the day--once in the morning when cortisol levels are at their highest, and again around 4 p.m., when levels are much lower.
For a cortisol urine test, your provider may ask you to collect all your urine during a 24-hour period. This is called a "24-hour urine sample test." For this test, you'll be given a special container and instructions for how to collect and store your urine sample. Your provider will tell you what time to start. The test usually includes the following steps:
To begin, urinate in the toilet as usual. Do not collect this urine. Write down the time you urinated.
For the next 24 hours, collect all your urine in the container.
Store the urine container in a refrigerator or in a cooler with ice during the collection period.
24 hours after starting the test, try to urinate if you can. This is the last urine collection for the test.
Return the container with your urine to your provider's office or the laboratory as instructed.
In certain cases, a urine test for cortisol may be done on one sample of urine collected in the morning.
A cortisol saliva test is usually done at home with a kit to collect a saliva sample. Your provider will tell you what time to collect your sample. It's often done at night before you go to bed when cortisol levels are normally lower.
Most kits include a swab and a container to store it. Be careful to follow the instructions that come with your kit. They usually include these general steps:
Do not eat, drink, brush, or floss your teeth for 30 minutes before the test.
Wash and dry your hands.
Open the tube that holds the swab and let the swab fall into your mouth without touching it with your hands.
Roll the swab in your mouth or hold it under your tongue for about 2 minutes until it is soaked with saliva.
Spit the swab back into the tube without touching it and close the tube.
Label the tube with the time you collected the sample.
Take your saliva sample to your doctor's office or the lab the next day as instructed.
The preparations will depend on the type of test you are having. Be sure to follow all the instructions that your provider gives you.
Stress can raise your cortisol levels, so you may need to rest before your test. A blood test will require you to schedule two appointments at different times of the day. Before a saliva test, you may need to stop using certain medicines. Let your provider know about all medicines you use, including skin creams. But don't stop using any medicines without talking with your provider first.
There is very little risk to having a blood test. You may have slight pain or bruising at the spot where the needle was put in, but most symptoms go away quickly.
There are no known risks to a urine or saliva test.
A cortisol test alone can't diagnose the cause of abnormal cortisol levels. If your cortisol level isn't normal, you will usually have more tests to find out what is causing the problem.
High levels of cortisol may be a sign that you have Cushing's syndrome. It may be caused by:
Taking high doses of certain steroid medicines for a long time to treat conditions, such as asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, and lupus
Tumors in your pituitary gland or other parts of your body that make too much of the hormone that tells your adrenal glands to make cortisol
Tumors in your adrenal glands that make extra cortisol
Low levels of cortisol may mean you have Addison disease or secondary adrenal insufficiency:
Common causes of Addison's disease include damage to the adrenal glands from conditions, such as:
Autoimmune diseases
Certain infections, such as tuberculosis (TB) and HIV/AIDS
Common causes of secondary adrenal insufficiency include:
Autoimmune diseases
Problems with the pituitary gland
Traumatic brain injury
The most common cause of low cortisol levels is suddenly stopping steroid medicines after using them for a long time.
If your cortisol results aren't normal, it doesn't always mean you have a medical condition that needs treatment. Cortisol levels can be affected by:
Stress
Pregnancy
Exercise
Serious illness
Hot and cold temperatures
Certain thyroid diseases
Obesity
Certain medicines, such as birth control pills
To learn what your test results mean, talk with your health care provider.
A cortisol test is one of the tests that may be used to help diagnose congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). CAH is a group of inherited disorders in which the adrenal glands don't make enough cortisol.
Cortisol Test: MedlinePlus Medical Test [accessed on Mar 08, 2024]
Cortisol (Urine) - Health Encyclopedia - University of Rochester Medical Center [accessed on Mar 08, 2024]
Cortisol in Blood Test | HealthLink BC [accessed on Mar 08, 2024]
Cortisol in Urine Test | HealthLink BC [accessed on Mar 08, 2024]
Normal reference ranges can vary depending on the laboratory and the method used for testing. You must use the range supplied by the laboratory that performed your test to evaluate whether your results are "within normal limits."
Additional Materials (10)
High Cortisol Levels, What Female Symptoms Indicate This?
Video by EmpowHER/YouTube
Endocrinology - Adrenal Gland Hormones
Video by Armando Hasudungan/YouTube
Pharmacology - Glucocorticoids
Video by Armando Hasudungan/YouTube
How High Cortisol Impacts Physiology (and fat loss)
Video by FatIsNotYourFault/YouTube
The Complexities of Cortisol
Video by University of California Television (UCTV)/YouTube
How stress affects your brain - Madhumita Murgia
Video by TED-Ed/YouTube
Primary adrenal insufficiency (Addison's disease) - an Osmosis preview
Video by Osmosis/YouTube
Human Physiology - Cortisol Feedback and Function
Video by Janux/YouTube
Cortisol
The hippocampus is rich in receptors for cortisol. So cortisol is very active in the hippocampus. But sustained high levels of cortisol cause damage to neurons. Cortisol disrupts cellular metabolism of hippocampal neurons and increases the vulnerability of neurons to a variety of insults.5,6 In addition, when cortisol is elevated chronically, there is a reduction in neurogenesis.7 In a nutshell, the damage from cortisol in the hippocampus has been suggested to be an example of sacrificing long-term function (i.e., memory function) for the sake of short-term survival.8
Image by TheVisualMD
Cortisol
Cortisol is a hormone critical to many biological functions, including glucose metabolism, blood pressure, immunity, and thyroid regulation. The steroid hormone is produced by the adrenal glands and its release controlled by ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone), which is produced by the pituitary. Excess cortisol in the system is marked by a group of signs and symptoms known collectively as Cushing syndrome. Cortisol deficiency may be caused by dysfunction of the pituitary, known as secondary adrenal insufficiency; or by dysfunction of the adrenal glands, known as primary adrenal insufficiency or Addison's disease.
Image by TheVisualMD
0:56
High Cortisol Levels, What Female Symptoms Indicate This?
EmpowHER/YouTube
10:43
Endocrinology - Adrenal Gland Hormones
Armando Hasudungan/YouTube
9:10
Pharmacology - Glucocorticoids
Armando Hasudungan/YouTube
6:07
How High Cortisol Impacts Physiology (and fat loss)
FatIsNotYourFault/YouTube
2:41
The Complexities of Cortisol
University of California Television (UCTV)/YouTube
4:16
How stress affects your brain - Madhumita Murgia
TED-Ed/YouTube
0:52
Primary adrenal insufficiency (Addison's disease) - an Osmosis preview
Osmosis/YouTube
12:26
Human Physiology - Cortisol Feedback and Function
Janux/YouTube
Cortisol
TheVisualMD
Cortisol
TheVisualMD
TSH (Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone) Test
TSH (Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone) Test
Also called: TSH, Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone, Thyrotropin
The test measures the amount of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) in a sample of your blood. TSH is made in the pituitary gland and stimulates the release of thyroid hormone. If your TSH levels are too high or too low, it can indicate a thyroid disorder.
TSH (Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone) Test
Also called: TSH, Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone, Thyrotropin
The test measures the amount of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) in a sample of your blood. TSH is made in the pituitary gland and stimulates the release of thyroid hormone. If your TSH levels are too high or too low, it can indicate a thyroid disorder.
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Use the slider below to see how your results affect your
health.
(mi.U.)/mL
0.45
4.5
Your result is Normal.
The pituitary gland releases TSH into the blood to stimulate the thyroid to make more thyroid hormone. The amount of TSH that the pituitary sends into the bloodstream depends on the amount of thyroid hormone in the body. In most healthy individuals, a normal TSH value means that the thyroid is functioning properly.
Related conditions
TSH stands for thyroid stimulating hormone. A TSH test is a blood test that measures this hormone. TSH levels that are too high or too low may be a sign of a thyroid problem.
The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland in the front of your neck. Your thyroid makes hormones that control how your body uses energy. Thyroid hormones affect nearly every organ in your body, including your heart. They help control your weight, body temperature, muscle strength, and even your mood. If you don't have enough thyroid hormones in your blood, many of your body functions slow down. If you have too much, many body functions speed up.
Your thyroid is controlled by a gland in your brain, called the pituitary gland. The pituitary gland makes thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). TSH tells your thyroid how much thyroid hormone it needs to make.
If the thyroid hormone levels in your blood are too low, your pituitary gland makes larger amounts of TSH to tell your thyroid to work harder. If your thyroid hormone levels are too high, the pituitary gland makes little or no TSH. By measuring TSH levels in your blood, you can find out if your thyroid is making the right level of hormones.
Other names: thyrotropin test
A TSH test is used to find out how well your thyroid is working. It can tell if you have hyperthyroidism (too much thyroid hormone) or hypothyroidism (too little thyroid hormone) in your blood. But a TSH test can't show what is causing a thyroid problem.
If you take prescription thyroid hormone medicine because of hypothyroidism or because you had your thyroid removed, you'll have regular TSH tests to check your thyroid hormone levels. TSH tests are also used to monitor your thyroid hormone levels after treatment for hyperthyroidism.
You may need a TSH test if you have symptoms of too much or too little thyroid hormone in your blood.
Hyperthyroidism (too much thyroid hormone) is also called overactive thyroid. Having more thyroid hormones than you need speeds up your body functions and causes symptoms that include:
Weight loss, even though you may be eating more than usual
Rapid or irregular heartbeat
Feeling nervous or irritable
Trouble sleeping, fatigue
Shaky hands, muscle weakness
Sweating or being very sensitive to heat
Frequent bowel movements (pooping a lot)
Goiter (enlarged thyroid)
Hypothyroidism (too little thyroid hormone) is also called underactive thyroid. Not having enough thyroid hormone slows down your body functions and causes symptoms that include:
Fatigue
Weight gain
Being very sensitive to cold
Joint and muscle pain
Dry skin
Dry, thinning hair
Heavy or irregular menstrual periods
Depression
Constipation
You may also have a TSH test, along with other tests, to help diagnose unusual bumps or lumps on your thyroid that may be thyroid cancer or thyroid nodules (growths on your thyroid that aren't cancer).
A health care professional will take a blood sample from a vein in your arm, using a small needle. After the needle is inserted, a small amount of blood will be collected into a test tube or vial. You may feel a little sting when the needle goes in or out. This usually takes less than five minutes.
You don't need any special preparations for a TSH blood test. If your health care provider has ordered other blood tests, you may need to fast (not eat or drink) for several hours before the test. Your provider will let you know if there are any special instructions to follow.
There is very little risk to having a blood test. You may have slight pain or bruising at the spot where the needle was put in, but most symptoms go away quickly.
Your TSH test results can tell you if your thyroid is making too much or too little thyroid. But the test can't explain why your TSH levels may be too high or too low.
If your test results aren't normal, your provider will probably order other thyroid blood tests to find out what's causing your thyroid problem. These blood tests may include:
T4 thyroid hormone test
T3 thyroid hormone test
Thyroid antibodies test to help diagnose an autoimmune thyroid disorder, such as:
Graves' disease, the most common cause of hyperthyroidism
Hashimoto's disease, that the most common cause of hypothyroidism
In certain cases, an abnormal TSH result may be a sign of a pituitary gland problem, but this doesn't happen often.
TSH levels may be high or low even when your thyroid gland is healthy. Serious illnesses not related to your thyroid may cause lower TSH levels for a short time. And TSH levels may be higher in people over age 80, even though they don't have any thyroid problems.
Pregnancy also affects TSH levels. They are often a little low during the first three months. But sometimes, thyroid disease develops during pregnancy. If you develop thyroid disease during pregnancy, your provider will monitor your condition through your pregnancy and after your baby is born. That's because hyperthyroidism, and less often, hypothyroidism, can continue after you give birth. If you have a history of thyroid disease, be sure to talk with your provider if you are pregnant or are thinking of becoming pregnant.
Newborn babies are routinely screened with a TSH test to see if they were born with hypothyroidism (congenital hypothyroidism).
004259: Thyroid-stimulating Hormone (TSH) | LabCorp [accessed on Oct 04, 2018]
TSH test: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia [accessed on Oct 04, 2018]
TSH [accessed on Oct 04, 2018]
004593: Thyroid-stimulating Hormone (TSH) in Pregnancy | LabCorp [accessed on Oct 04, 2018]
Normal reference ranges can vary depending on the laboratory and the method used for testing. You must use the range supplied by the laboratory that performed your test to evaluate whether your results are "within normal limits."
Additional Materials (28)
Thyroid Gland
The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of the neck, just below the Adam's apple. The thyroid gland produces two main hormones, thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), which play key roles in regulating many aspects of metabolism, the rate at which the cells use energy and carry out chemical processes. The thyroid and the hormones it produces are under the control of a hormone called TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) produced by the pituitary gland.
Image by TheVisualMD
Importance of Thyroid Gland
The thyroid and the hormones it produces, for example, are under control of a hormone called TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone), which is produced by the pituitary gland. The pituitary gland is often referred to as the "master gland" because it regulates the activities of other endocrine glands. The pituitary gland, however, takes its orders from the hypothalamus, which decides which particular hormones the pituitary should release and when.
Image by TheVisualMD
Thyroid Gland
Image by CFCF
Follicular Cell of Thyroid Gland
The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of the neck, just below the Adam's apple. The thyroid gland produces two main hormones, thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). The hormones help maintain body temperature, heart rate, moods, energy levels, bowel function and rates of fat, protein and carbohydrate metabolism. The thyroid contains spherical follicles that absorb iodine ions from the blood for use in the production of T4 and T3. Iodine deficiency, rare in the U.S., affects two billion people worldwide and is the leading preventable cause of mental retardation.
Image by TheVisualMD
Woman with visible Brain revealing Pituitary Gland
The pituitary gland is a pea-sized endocrine gland located at the base of the skull, between the optic nerves. It is often referred to as the endocrine system's \"master gland\" because it regulates the activities of other glands. The pituitary, however, takes its orders from the hypothalamus, which decides which particular hormones the pituitary should release and when. The pituitary governs testosterone and estrogen production, as well as ovulation and breast milk production; it also helps regulate growth, blood pressure, maintain proper fluid balance, and other aspects of metabolism.
Image by TheVisualMD
Follicle-stimulating hormone
Follicle-stimulating hormone
Image by MartaFF
Follicle-stimulating hormone
The time scale starts with the (LMP), given as day number. Day number 1 corresponds to 0 to 0.99 days from LMP, and Day number 2 corresponds to 1.00 to 1.99 days from LMP and so forth. The time scale ends at whatever is the actual next menstruation, which marks the beginning of the next cycle, which is equivalent to starting all over again from the beginning of the time scale.
Image by Mikael Haggstrom
hCG testing for pregnancy
Diagram of typical immunoassay home pregnancy test which detects human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). (A) A urine sample is applied to the stick. If pregnant, this should contain hCG. (B) As the sample is absorbed into the stick it goes through free dye-labeled antibodies that recognize and stick to hCG. (C) An anchored set of antibodies stick to and capture hCG molecules (and the attached dye-labeled antibodies), creating the first line. In the "not pregnant" sample no hCG is attached to the dye-labeled antibodies, so they wash past this point and no line appears. (D) A second anchored set of antibodies captures the dye-labeled antibodies, providing a positive control to indicate that the test is working properly.
Image by Madprime
The classic finding of exophthalmos and lid retraction in Graves' disease
Proptosis and Lid Retraction from Graves Disease : Photograph showing a classic finding of Graves' Disease, proptosis and lid retraction.
Image by Jonathan Trobe, M.D. - University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center
What are the symptoms of Graves' disease?
Graves' disease symptoms
Image by Original uploader was Madhero88 at en.wikipedia
What is Graves' ophthalmopathy?
Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the orbits, showing congestion of the retro-orbital space and enlargement of the extraocular muscles (arrows), consistent with the diagnosis of Graves' Ophthalmopathy.
Image by Huy A Tran and Glenn EM Reeves
Thyroid Gland
The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of the neck, just below the Adam`s apple. Hormones produced by the thyroid gland have an enormous impact on many aspects of metabolism.
Image by TheVisualMD
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone
A Classic Negative Feedback Loop
Image by OpenStax College
Woman's neck region with visible thyroid
The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of the neck. The gland produces two main hormones, thyroxine and triiodothyronine. The hormones help maintain body temperature, heart rate, moods, energy levels, bowel function and rates of fat, protein and carbohydrate metabolism. The thyroid is under the control of a hormone called thyroid-stimulating hormone produced by the pituitary gland; the pituitary gland, in turn, takes its orders from the hypothalamus. Thyroid problems usually fall into one of two categories: hypothroidism, when the gland produces too little hormone; or hyperthroidism, when the gland produces too much.
Image by TheVisualMD
Woman with Visible Thyroid
The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of the neck, just below the Adam's apple. The thyroid gland produces two main hormones, thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). The hormones help maintain body temperature, heart rate, moods, energy levels, bowel function and rates of fat, protein and carbohydrate metabolism. The thyroid and the hormones it produces are under the control of a hormone called TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) produced by the pituitary gland, which is often referred to as the \"master gland\" because it regulates the activities of other endocrine glands.
Image by TheVisualMD
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)
The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of the neck that produces hormones that help maintain body temperature, heart rate, moods, and metabolism. Hyperthyroidism (when too much hormone is produced) is often caused by an autoimmune disorder called Graves' disease, in which antibodies produced by the immune system over-stimulate the thyroid. The production of thyroid hormones is under the control of a hormone called TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) produced by the pituitary gland.
Image by TheVisualMD
Woman With Goiter Due to Hypothyroidism
The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of the neck that produces two hormones, thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), that help maintain body temperature, heart rate, moods, and metabolism. A goiter is any visible enlargement of the thyroid gland. In the past, goiters were often due to a lack of iodine in the diet (iodized salt has greatly reduced such goiters). Goiters can be present in cases of either hormone overproduction (hyperthyroidism) or underproduction (hypothyroidism).
Image by TheVisualMD
Hormonal Control of the Menstrual Cycle, Animation.
Video by Alila Medical Media/YouTube
What Is High FSH?
Video by fertilityauthority/YouTube
What is FSH?
Video by fertilityauthority/YouTube
Human Physiology - Hormonal Regulation of Male Reproduction
Thyroid gland - What's the function of the thyroid?
Video by Healthchanneltv / cherishyourhealthtv/YouTube
Normal Thyroid cell
A normal thyroid cell (Nthy.ori 3-1) adhered to gold surface. Picture taken by a Scanning electron microscope (SEM), University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece.
Image by ChronakiDimitra
Thyroid scintigraphy
5 different scintigramms taken from thyroids with different syndroms: A) normal thyroid, B) Graves disease, diffuse increased uptake in both thyroid lobes, C) Plummers disease (TMNG, toxic multinodular goitre), D) Toxic adenoma, E) Thyroiditis. Marker 99Tc
Image by Petros Perros
Thyroid Gland
TheVisualMD
Importance of Thyroid Gland
TheVisualMD
Thyroid Gland
CFCF
Follicular Cell of Thyroid Gland
TheVisualMD
Woman with visible Brain revealing Pituitary Gland
TheVisualMD
Follicle-stimulating hormone
MartaFF
Follicle-stimulating hormone
Mikael Haggstrom
hCG testing for pregnancy
Madprime
The classic finding of exophthalmos and lid retraction in Graves' disease
Jonathan Trobe, M.D. - University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center
What are the symptoms of Graves' disease?
Original uploader was Madhero88 at en.wikipedia
What is Graves' ophthalmopathy?
Huy A Tran and Glenn EM Reeves
Thyroid Gland
TheVisualMD
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone
OpenStax College
Woman's neck region with visible thyroid
TheVisualMD
Woman with Visible Thyroid
TheVisualMD
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)
TheVisualMD
Woman With Goiter Due to Hypothyroidism
TheVisualMD
3:15
Hormonal Control of the Menstrual Cycle, Animation.
Alila Medical Media/YouTube
1:16
What Is High FSH?
fertilityauthority/YouTube
2:46
What is FSH?
fertilityauthority/YouTube
3:38
Human Physiology - Hormonal Regulation of Male Reproduction
Thyroid gland - What's the function of the thyroid?
Healthchanneltv / cherishyourhealthtv/YouTube
Normal Thyroid cell
ChronakiDimitra
Thyroid scintigraphy
Petros Perros
Leptin Test
Leptin Test
Also called: LEP
The leptin test measures the levels of leptin in blood. Leptin is a hormone that regulates body weight. It is primarily secreted by fat tissue cells and controls appetite and energy level by signaling the hypothalamus in the brain. This test is used to evaluate body fat metabolism.
Leptin Test
Also called: LEP
The leptin test measures the levels of leptin in blood. Leptin is a hormone that regulates body weight. It is primarily secreted by fat tissue cells and controls appetite and energy level by signaling the hypothalamus in the brain. This test is used to evaluate body fat metabolism.
{"label":"Leptin Reference Range","scale":"lin","step":0.1,"hideunits":false,"units":[{"printSymbol":"ng\/mL","code":"ng\/mL","name":"nanogram per milliliter"}],"items":[{"flag":"abnormal","label":{"short":"Low","long":"Low","orientation":"horizontal"},"values":{"min":0,"max":4.7},"text":"Your leptin levels are low. Talk to your doctor to know what this result means in your case. Further testing may be necessary. ","conditions":["Obesity","Metabolic syndrome","Hypothalamic amenorrhea"]},{"flag":"normal","label":{"short":"Normal","long":"Normal","orientation":"horizontal"},"values":{"min":4.7,"max":23.7},"text":"Normal results vary based on the laboratory and the method used.","conditions":[]},{"flag":"abnormal","label":{"short":"High","long":"High","orientation":"horizontal"},"values":{"min":23.7,"max":30},"text":"Your leptin levels are high. Talk to your doctor to know what this result means in your case. Further testing may be necessary. ","conditions":["Pregnancy","Anorexia nervosa",""]}],"value":14.2}[{"abnormal":0},{"normal":0},{"abnormal":0}]
Use the slider below to see how your results affect your
health.
ng/mL
4.7
23.7
Your result is Normal.
Normal results vary based on the laboratory and the method used.
Related conditions
Leptin is a hormone that is secreted by fat tissue cells and its main function is to signal the brain to regulate satiety; therefore, this hormone helps regulate your body weight by keeping under control your appetite and energy level.
High levels of leptin diminish hunger. In people with obesity, either there is insufficient leptin in the blood to signal the brain to stop hunger (leptin deficiency), or secretion of leptin is sufficient or even elevated but still fails to signal the brain to stop hunger (leptin resistance).
The leptin test measures the levels of this hormone in a sample of your blood.
This test can help doctors assess the amount of fat in your body, and it can also be used to help determine the cause of infertility or delayed puberty.
Your doctor may recommend this test if you experience any of the following:
Obesity
A sudden change in weight
Infertility problems
Delayed puberty
A healthcare professional takes a blood sample from a vein, generally in your arm, using a needle. A small amount of blood is collected into a test tube or vial. You may feel discomfort when the needle goes in or out.
No preparation required.
You may have slight pain or bruise at the spot where the needle was inserted, but most symptoms go away quickly.
The amount of leptin in your body varies from day to day, and it also varies depending on your weight, age, gender, medical history, and the method used for testing by the laboratory. Your test results may not mean you have a problem.
The results of this test are mostly used for clinical research purposes only, and should not be as a stand-alone test to screen or diagnose any disease or condition. Further research is needed to understand how to use the lab values from this test.
Leptin levels can typically be elevated during pregnancy. Other pathological conditions where leptin has been reported elevated is include gestational diabetes and preeclampsia.
Leptin Blood Test [accessed on Sep 28, 2018]
146712: Leptin, Serum or Plasma | LabCorp [accessed on Sep 28, 2018]
Leptin (Blood) - Health Encyclopedia - University of Rochester Medical Center [accessed on Nov 14, 2018]
Leptin (90367) [accessed on Nov 14, 2018]
Normal reference ranges can vary depending on the laboratory and the method used for testing. You must use the range supplied by the laboratory that performed your test to evaluate whether your results are "within normal limits."
Additional Materials (24)
Are Your Hormones Influencing Your Weight? | Earth Lab
Video by BBC Earth Lab/YouTube
thin-outside-fat-inside
Fat-Fat "Fat on the Outside Thin on the Inside" (FOTI) image. shows 2 subjects the first fat fit with reduced amount of internal fat compared with an obese control.
Image by ImagingFat
Visceral Fat _ What Causes a Beer Belly Medical Course (VIDEO)
Fatty tissue in the region of the ABDOMEN. It includes the ABDOMINAL SUBCUTANEOUS FAT and the INTRA-ABDOMINAL FAT.
Image by TheVisualMD
Sensitive content
This media may include sensitive content
Overweight man standing
In times of starvation or during a weight-loss regimen, body protein is used to provide energy. Because our bodies do not store protein, functional body proteins such as enzymes and muscle proteins must be broken down to yield amino acids, which can then be used as fuel or to make glucose. Once protein are broken down into amino acids, they can be used as fuel, to make glucose, or to make fatty acids. Excess fatty acids can be stored as triglycerides in the body, thus contributing to weight gain. In a manner of speaking, the body does not want to convert protein to fat. The nutrient is far better suited to the construction and repair of tissues. But when your diet delivers more amino acids than your body needs - a common case among Americans - the excess is stored as glycogen or triglyceride fat. Fat is stored for the purpose of stockpiling energy but, in a sedentary lifestyle, we gain weight because those stockpiles are never called upon. When an oversized hunk of protein (say, 12oz steak instead of a proper 3oz portion) is consumed, insulin arrives in the blood to clear all the excess amino acid. In the presence of insulin, anything you eat is more likely to be converted to body fat.
Image by TheVisualMD
Dietary fat
Facing the Fats : It`s hard to imagine a time when fats were not controversial and did not strike fear in the hearts of dieters. Just the mention of fat-loaded words like butter and bacon can trigger powerful reactions! And yet it has only been in the past 50 years or so that our relationship with fats has become such a problem. Of the three primary macronutrients, fat provides the most energy (measured in calories) by weight. Fats have many other important jobs. Fats are a crucial source of raw materials. Dietary fat is a fundamental building block and our bodies use it in a variety of ways. We use fats to build hormones and neurotransmitters. Fats also aid in the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K, and play key roles in regulating inflammation, chemical signaling and the metabolism of other nutrients.
Image by TheVisualMD
How Much Fat? Low Fat, Light & Fat Free
Image by TheVisualMD
Obese Figure with Organs and Visceral Fat, cross section
Visceral fat is found deep inside your abdomen, surrounding your vital organs. It's different from subcutaneous fat, the kind that's just under your skin. Too much visceral fat physically crowds your organs and your diaphragm. This can restrict your organs' blood supply and make it difficult for you to breathe deeply. Visceral fat secretes dangerous hormones and inflammatory chemicals. The blood that circulates through visceral fat goes directly into your liver through the portal vein. That means the substances your visceral fat produces all pour directly into your liver and into your bloodstream. Scientists think this may have important, and damaging, consequences, such as creating systemic inflammation. For many years, adipose (fat) tissue was thought to be a mostly dormant substance with a mainly passive function: storage. But now researchers have found that adipose tissue is, in fact, highly active. Adipose tissue has a metabolic function and acts as an endocrine organ-that is, it produces hormones and secretes them into your bloodstream, through which they travel to affect the function of organs all over your body. In fact, fat tissue produces literally dozens of hormones, including leptin, which controls appetite, and adiponectin, which affects insulin sensitivity and blood sugar levels. Because adipose tissue is now known to be so biologically active, researchers think that it could well play an important role in cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and other diseases.
Image by TheVisualMD
thin-outside-fat-inside
Coronal Image of a TOFI (thin-outside-fat-inside) and a Normal Control _ MRI Images showing different content of internal fat in two men of a similar size. Coronal Image of a TOFI and a Normal Control _ MRI Images showing different content of internal fat in two men of a similar size.
Image by ImagingFat
The Science of Appetite; Beating Overeating
Want to lose weight but can't stop eating? There's a reason for that. Find out how you can beat the desire to overeat and bring yourself one step closer to being your healthy self!
Image by TheVisualMD
Atherosclerosis Progression in Artery 2 of 4
Atherosclerosis begins when cholesterol, a waxy, fat-like substance, and other molecules in the blood stick to the inner lining of the arteries. High blood cholesterol levels, together with the presence of inflammatory cells, can cause this buildup to continue over a period of years and develop into hard deposits known as plaque.
Image by TheVisualMD
Visceral Fat, Female
Visceral fat lies deep within the abdomen, surrounding the abdominal organs. It is illustrated well in this female abdomenal cross section as the comparison of fat (highlighted in green) to organs can be seen to be fairly dramatic. Excessive visceral fat appears when an individual consumes more fat than the body can metabolize, forcing it to store the fat around body organs. Visceral fat can easily accumulate around the heart, rendering it less efficient, leading to a multitiude of cardiovascular issues. Having too much of this type of fat has also been linked to diabetes and other health problems. Having more visceral fat than necessary can also add weight to the skeleton, leading to bone and joint problems.
Image by TheVisualMD
Visceral Fat, Male
Visceral fat lies deep within the abdomen, surrounding the abdominal organs. It is illustrated well in male abdomenal cross section as the comparison of fat (highlighted in green) to organs can be seen to be fairly dramatic. Excessive visceral fat appears when an individual consumes more fat than the body can metabolize, forcing it to store the fat around body organs. Visceral fat can easily accumulate around the heart, rendering it less efficient, leading to a multitiude of cardiovascular issues. Having too much of this type of fat has also been linked to diabetes and other health problems. Having more visceral fat than necessary can also add weight to the skeleton, leading to bone and joint problems.
Image by TheVisualMD
Healthy Capillary in Fat Tissue
This image shows capillaries in fat tissue with a cross section showing red blood cells, pink particles representing blood glucose and purple particles representing insulin. Normally, fat and muscle cells utilize glucose (pink) avoiding glucose build-up in the bloodstream.
Image by TheVisualMD
Body Fat Distribution in Male
Male figure revealing common fat distribution sites.. Men store more fat chiefly in the abdomen, which becomes especially apparent with age.
Image by TheVisualMD
Excess fat cells growing on top of the muscle tissue
Triglycerides are a large and varied category of fats found in both plants and animals. Because fats and blood, like oil and water, do not mix, triglycerides (as well as cholesterol) circulate through the body in special parcels called lipoproteins, which are fat-and-protein packages that enable fats to move freely within the bloodstream. Proteins and other components make up the outer shell; fats, in the form of triglycerides and cholesterol, are packed together inside.
Image by TheVisualMD
C-reactive Protein, Fat cells
C-reactive protein (CRP) is a substance made by the liver that is released into the bloodstream by inflammation and infection as part of the body's immune response. Researchers have found, however, that fat cells also seem to trigger the production of C-reactive protein (CRP), which is why individuals who are overweight or obese tend to have chronically higher levels of CRP.
Image by TheVisualMD
A Downward Spiral
Poor sleep and sleep deprivation can increase your appetite. Sleep apnea causes imbalances in the levels of two hormones that are associated with feelings of hunger and satiety: leptin and ghrelin. Leptin, which is produced by fat cells, is an appetite suppressant. When leptin is present at high levels, it normally produces a feeling of satiety—the feeling that you are full and have eaten enough.
Ghrelin, which is produced by your stomach and pancreas, is leptin’s counterpart and has the reverse function: it’s an appetite stimulant. Levels of ghrelin increase before a meal and decrease afterwards.
Image by TheVisualMD
Sleep deprivation - How Much Sleep Do We Need?
A Downward Spiral : Poor sleep and sleep deprivation can increase your appetite. Sleep apnea causes imbalances in the levels of two hormones that are associated with feelings of hunger and satiety: leptin and ghrelin. Leptin is an appetite suppressant. Ghrelin is an appetite stimulant. Disrupted sleep causes your levels of ghrelin to rise, stimulating your appetite. It also causes levels of leptin, the appetite suppressant, to decrease. OSA can raise your insulin and glucose (blood sugar) levels and damage your ability to process glucose-in some cases to the level of diabetics. Sleep apnea appears to be a risk factor for insulin resistance, a precursor to diabetes, and people with moderate-to-severe sleep apnea may have twice the risk of developing insulin resistance.
Image by TheVisualMD
Leptin
Leptin is an adipocyte-derived hormone, meaning it comes from cells specialized for the storage of fat. The more body fat a person has, the more leptin in the bloodstream. The hormone is essential for regulating body weight and is understood to play a role in appetite, energy production, and metabolism. Since its discovery in 1994, academic and clinical interest in leptin has accelerated with the prevalence of obesity.
Image by TheVisualMD
Adipose tissue
Our Fat Helps Keep us Fat : Body fat is not dead weight. Adipose tissue secretes hormones, including leptin, an appetite-control hormone, and adiponectin, which has an anti-inflammatory effect on blood vessels. When we are overweight, our fat tissue lowers blood levels of adiponectin, which increases the risk of heart disease and decreases glucose sensitivity.
Image by TheVisualMD
The Power of Cravings
Your senses conspire to make you desire things you know will do you harm. Why?
Image by TheVisualMD
Sleep Fights Weight Gain
Your appetite control hormones and metabolism are thrown off balance when you don't get enough sleep.
Image by TheVisualMD
Obese Figure with Organs and Visceral Fat, cross section
Obese Figure with Organs and Visceral Fat, cross section : Visceral fat is found deep inside your abdomen, surrounding your vital organs. It's different from subcutaneous fat, the kind that's just under your skin. Too much visceral fat physically crowds your organs and your diaphragm. This can restrict your organs' blood supply and make it difficult for you to breathe deeply. Visceral fat secretes dangerous hormones and inflammatory chemicals. The blood that circulates through visceral fat goes directly into your liver through the portal vein. That means the substances your visceral fat produces all pour directly into your liver and into your bloodstream. Scientists think this may have important, and damaging, consequences, such as creating systemic inflammation. For many years, adipose (fat) tissue was thought to be a mostly dormant substance with a mainly passive function: storage. But now researchers have found that adipose tissue is, in fact, highly active. Adipose tissue has a metabolic function and acts as an endocrine organ-that is, it produces hormones and secretes them into your bloodstream, through which they travel to affect the function of organs all over your body. In fact, fat tissue produces literally dozens of hormones, including leptin, which controls appetite, and adiponectin, which affects insulin sensitivity and blood sugar levels. Because adipose tissue is now known to be so biologically active, researchers think that it could well play an important role in cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and other diseases.
Image by TheVisualMD
Leptin and ghrelin
Leptin and ghrelin are known as the "hunger hormones". Leptin is a hormone, made by fat cells, that decreases your appetite. Ghrelin is a hormone that increases appetite, and also plays a role in body weight.
Image by Injurymap.com
3:56
Are Your Hormones Influencing Your Weight? | Earth Lab
BBC Earth Lab/YouTube
thin-outside-fat-inside
ImagingFat
Visceral Fat _ What Causes a Beer Belly Medical Course (VIDEO)
TheVisualMD
Sensitive content
This media may include sensitive content
Overweight man standing
TheVisualMD
Dietary fat
TheVisualMD
How Much Fat? Low Fat, Light & Fat Free
TheVisualMD
Obese Figure with Organs and Visceral Fat, cross section
TheVisualMD
thin-outside-fat-inside
ImagingFat
The Science of Appetite; Beating Overeating
TheVisualMD
Atherosclerosis Progression in Artery 2 of 4
TheVisualMD
Visceral Fat, Female
TheVisualMD
Visceral Fat, Male
TheVisualMD
Healthy Capillary in Fat Tissue
TheVisualMD
Body Fat Distribution in Male
TheVisualMD
Excess fat cells growing on top of the muscle tissue
TheVisualMD
C-reactive Protein, Fat cells
TheVisualMD
A Downward Spiral
TheVisualMD
Sleep deprivation - How Much Sleep Do We Need?
TheVisualMD
Leptin
TheVisualMD
Adipose tissue
TheVisualMD
The Power of Cravings
TheVisualMD
Sleep Fights Weight Gain
TheVisualMD
Obese Figure with Organs and Visceral Fat, cross section
TheVisualMD
Leptin and ghrelin
Injurymap.com
FTO Genetic Test
FTO Genetic Test
Also called: Fat mass and obesity-associated gene, FTO gene mutations
The fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) gene is called the “fat gene” because it has been significantly associated with a higher risk of being overweight or obese. This gene causes people to eat more and feel less satisfied than an average person. This test evaluates a sample of the person's blood or saliva to look for mutations (changes) in the FTO gene.
FTO Genetic Test
Also called: Fat mass and obesity-associated gene, FTO gene mutations
The fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) gene is called the “fat gene” because it has been significantly associated with a higher risk of being overweight or obese. This gene causes people to eat more and feel less satisfied than an average person. This test evaluates a sample of the person's blood or saliva to look for mutations (changes) in the FTO gene.
{"label":"FTO Genetic Test Reference Range","scale":"lin","step":0.25,"hideunits":true,"items":[{"flag":"negative","label":{"short":"Negative","long":"Negative","orientation":"horizontal"},"values":{"min":0,"max":1},"text":"A negative result means no FTO gene mutations were found. You have the same obesity risk as everyone else. ","conditions":[]},{"flag":"positive","label":{"short":"One copy ","long":"One copy ","orientation":"horizontal"},"values":{"min":1,"max":2},"text":"People who have one abnormal copy of the FTO gene have an approximately 1.3-fold increased risk of obesity.","conditions":["Overweight","Obesity"]},{"flag":"positive","label":{"short":"Two copies","long":"Two copies","orientation":"horizontal"},"values":{"min":2,"max":3},"text":"People who have two abnormal copies of the FTO gene have an approximately 1.7-fold increased risk of obesity.","conditions":["Overweight","Obesity"]}],"value":0.5}[{"negative":0},{"positive":0},{"positive":1}]
Use the slider below to see how your results affect your
health.
Your result is Negative.
A negative result means no FTO gene mutations were found. You have the same obesity risk as everyone else.
Related conditions
The fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) gene is among the strongest known genetic risk factors for obesity.
Although environmental factors, such as little physical activity and over-eating, are the main factors for people to become overweight or obese, genetic factors account for approximately 40–90% of the variation in the body mass index of the population.
The exact mechanism of how this gene relates to obesity remains unclear; however, it is believed that the FTO gene is involved in controlling feeding behavior and energy expenditure.
There are five obesity-related mutations, also called variants orpolymorphisms, of the FTO gene that have been well researched so far, they are called rs9939609, rs1421085, rs8050136, rs17817449, and rs1121980. All these variants are usually inherited together because they are located in the same DNA block.
This test evaluates a sample of the person's blood or saliva to determine if mutations (changes) are present in the FTO gene.
Your doctor may want to order this test to know if you have an increased risk of being overweight or obese; this way timely measures can be taken, especially when it comes to modifying high-risk behaviors such as sedentarism and unhealthy eating habits.
People with FTO gene mutations tend to have increased food intake, especially of high-energy foods, as well as impaired satiety.
A small amount of blood will be drawn of a vein in your arm by using a needle, or a saliva sample will be collected by rubbing a swab against your gums.
No fasting or other preparations are needed.
The risks are related only to the blood extraction procedure, including a little bleeding, temporary pain or discomfort, bruising, or local infection.
There are no known risks when the test is performed in saliva.
Every person can inherit one or two abnormal copies of the gene, one from each parent.
People who have one abnormal copy of the FTO gene have an approximately 1.3-fold increased risk of obesity and weigh about 4.5 lbs (2 kg) more, on average, than people who do not have it.
People who have two abnormal copies of the FTO gene have an approximately 1.7-fold increased risk of obesity and weigh about 9 lbs (4 kg) more, on average, than people who do not have it.
Other types of mutations in the FTO gene have been related to several congenital (born with it) problems during childhood, including growth retardation, microcephaly (abnormally small head), severe psychomotor delay, impaired brain functionality, abnormal facial features, and early death.
Genetics Home Reference. FTO gene. [accessed on Oct 01, 2018]
Fawcett KA, Barroso I. The genetics of obesity: FTO leads the way. Trends in Genetics. 2010;26(6):266-274. doi:10.1016/j.tig.2010.02.006. [accessed on Oct 01, 2018]
Frayling TM, Timpson NJ, Weedon MN, et al. A Common Variant in the FTO Gene Is Associated with Body Mass Index and Predisposes to Childhood and Adult Obesity. Science (New York, NY). 2007;316(5826):889-894. doi:10.1126/science.1141634. [accessed on Oct 01, 2018]
Medscape. Obesity, FTO, and Type 2 Diabetes: Overview, Function of FTO, Clinical Implications and Genetic Testing. Author: Ali Torkamani, PhD; Chief Editor: Keith K Vaux, MD. [accessed on Oct 01, 2018]
https://www.genecards.org/cgi-bin/carddisp.pl?gene=FTO [accessed on Oct 01, 2018]
Peng S, Zhu Y, Xu F, Ren X, Li X, Lai M. FTO gene polymorphisms and obesity risk: a meta-analysis. BMC Medicine. 2011;9:71. doi:10.1186/1741-7015-9-71. [accessed on Oct 01, 2018]
Yi-Cheng Chang, Pi-Hua Liu, Wei-Jei Lee, Tien-Jyun Chang, Yi-Der Jiang, Hung-YuanLi, Shan-Shan Kuo, Kuang-Chin Lee, Lee-Ming Chuang. Common Variation in the Fat Mass and Obesity-Associated (FTO) Gene Confers Risk of Obesity and Modulates BMI in the Chinese Population. Diabetes Aug 2008, 57 (8) 2245-2252; DOI: 10.2337/db08-0377. [accessed on Oct 01, 2018]
Lima RPA, Hayashi DN, Lima KQDF, Gomes NIG, Ribeiro MR, et al. (2017) The Role of Epigenetics in the Etiology of Obesity: A Review. J Clin Epigenet. 3:41 doi: 10.21767/2472-1158.100075 [accessed on Oct 01, 2018]
Loos RJF, Yeo GSH. The bigger picture of FTO – the first GWAS-identified obesity gene. Nature reviews Endocrinology. 2014;10(1):51-61. doi:10.1038/nrendo.2013.227. [accessed on Oct 01, 2018]
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Normal reference ranges can vary depending on the laboratory and the method used for testing. You must use the range supplied by the laboratory that performed your test to evaluate whether your results are "within normal limits."
Health Risks
Five Hidden Dangers of Obesity
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Five Hidden Dangers of Obesity
Five Hidden Dangers of Obesity
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Health Risks of Overweight & Obesity
Overweight and obesity may raise your risk for certain health problems and may be linked to certain emotional and social problems.
What are some health risks of overweight and obesity?
Type 2 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is a disease that occurs when your blood glucose, also called blood sugar, is too high. About 8 out of 10 people with type 2 diabetes are overweight or have obesity. Over time, high blood glucose leads to problems such as heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, eye problems, nerve damage, and other health problems.
If you are at risk for type 2 diabetes, losing 5 to 7 percent of your body weight and getting regular physical activity may prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes.
High blood pressure
High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is a condition in which blood flows through your blood vessels with a force greater than normal. High blood pressure can strain your heart, damage blood vessels, and raise your risk of heart attack, stroke, kidney disease, and death.
Overweight and obesity may raise your risk for certain health problems such as high blood pressure.
Heart disease
Heart disease is a term used to describe several problems that may affect your heart. If you have heart disease, you may have a heart attack, heart failure, sudden cardiac death, angina, or an abnormal heart rhythm. High blood pressure, abnormal levels of blood fats, and high blood glucose levels may raise your risk for heart disease. Blood fats, also called blood lipids, include HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides.
Losing 5 to 10 percent of your weight may lower your risk factors for developing heart disease. If you weigh 200 pounds, this means losing as little as 10 pounds. Weight loss may improve blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and blood flow.
Stroke
Stroke is a condition in which the blood supply to your brain is suddenly cut off, caused by a blockage or the bursting of a blood vessel in your brain or neck. A stroke can damage brain tissue and make you unable to speak or move parts of your body. High blood pressure is the leading cause of strokes.
Sleep apnea
Sleep apnea is a common disorder in which you do not breathe regularly while sleeping. You may stop breathing altogether for short periods of time. Untreated sleep apnea may raise your risk of other health problems, such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
Metabolic syndrome
Metabolic syndrome is a group of conditions that put you at risk for heart disease, diabetes, and stroke. These conditions are
high blood pressure
high blood glucose levels
high triglyceride levels in your blood
low levels of HDL cholesterol (the “good” cholesterol) in your blood
too much fat around your waist
Fatty liver diseases
Fatty liver diseases are conditions in which fat builds up in your liver. Fatty liver diseases include nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Fatty liver diseases may lead to severe liver damage, cirrhosis, or even liver failure.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a common, long-lasting health problem that causes pain, swelling, and reduced motion in your joints. Being overweight or having obesity may raise your risk of getting osteoarthritis by putting extra pressure on your joints and cartilage.
Gallbladder diseases
Overweight and obesity may raise your risk of getting gallbladder diseases, such as gallstones and cholecystitis. Imbalances in substances that make up bile cause gallstones. Gallstones may form if bile contains too much cholesterol.
Some cancers
Cancer is a collection of related diseases. In all types of cancer, some of the body’s cells begin to divide without stopping and spread into surrounding tissues. Overweight and obesity may raise your risk of developing certain types of cancer.
Kidney disease
Kidney disease means that your kidneys are damaged and can’t filter blood like they should. Obesity raises the risk of diabetes and high blood pressure, the most common causes of kidney disease. Even if you don’t have diabetes or high blood pressure, obesity itself may promote kidney disease and quicken its progress.
Pregnancy problems
Overweight and obesity raise the risk of health problems that may occur during pregnancy. Pregnant women who are overweight or obese may have a greater chance of
developing gestational diabetes
having preeclampsia—high blood pressure during pregnancy, which can cause severe health problems for mother and baby if left untreated
needing a cesarean section, or C-section and, as a result, taking longer to recover after giving birth
What emotional and social problems are linked to overweight and obesity?
Overweight and obesity are associated with mental health problems such as depression. People who deal with overweight and obesity may also be the subject of weight bias and stigma from others, including health care providers. This can lead to feelings of rejection, shame, or guilt—further worsening mental health problems.
Source: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Additional Materials (16)
Obesity and Asthma
Obesity and Asthma : The rates of both asthma and obesity are rising in North America, and they are rising together. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that about 30% of adults in the US are obese, a rate that has almost doubled in the past 20 years. The percentage of adults in the US who have asthma has also risen, with current rates at about 8% of the population.
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Obesity and Sleep Apnea
Obesity and Sleep Apnea : Obesity is the most powerful risk factor for obstructive sleep apnea. About 70% of people with OSA are obese. Roughly 40% of obese men and women have OSA. Waist circumference may be an even stronger predictor of OSA than BMI, weight, or total fat content. Fat cells can infiltrate the tissues of the neck and throat, causing them to enlarge and lose tone. The upper airway becomes more likely to collapse. Excess visceral fat (internal abdominal fat) pushes up on the diaphragm, making deep breathing difficult. The weight of chest fat pushing down on the lungs adds to the difficulty. Sleep apnea can contribute to obesity as well, through fatigue and hormonal disruption.
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Consequences of Obesity
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Spinal Consquences of Obesity
Obesity means having too much body fat. It is different from being overweight, which means weighing too much. The weight may come from muscle, bone, fat, and/or body water. Both terms mean that a person's weight is greater than what's considered healthy for his or her height.
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Joint & Pain Consequences of Obesity
Joint & Pain Consequences of Obesity
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Obesity-associated morbidity
Adding To The Burden : Obesity has consequences. Some cancers are linked to obesity, it also can lower your chances to get pregnant. You chances of Liver disease are getting higher, you can get Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). It effects your sleepeng habits and you can develop sleep apnea too. The burden of obesity extends to your psychological well-being, too. Depression frequently goes hand in hand with obesity.
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How Does Obesity Affect Hypertension?
If you're obese, you're at high risk for hypertension. Even moderately obese people have double the risk for hypertension as non-obese people. Having hypertension means the pressure of your blood against the walls of your arteries is too high. Hypertension is sometimes called "the silent killer" because, although it frequently has no symptoms, it can be deadly. It can cause heart disease, atherosclerosis, kidney disease, and other types of damage.
Video by TheVisualMD
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Obesity & Breast Cancer
Cancer is, for the most part, a preventable disease. Only 5-10% of all cancer cases are caused by genetic defects. The remaining 90-95% are brought about by environmental and lifestyle factors: overweight, lack of exercise, poor diet, smoking, overuse of alcohol, and overexposure to UV and other forms of radiation. Of all cancer-related deaths, it’s thought that 25–30% are due to tobacco, 30–35% are linked to diet, about 15–20% are due to infections. That’s good news, because most lifestyle and environmental factors can be changed or modified. There are even vaccines that can provide protection against certain forms of cancer.
Video by TheVisualMD
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Sleep and Your Weight
How can interrupted sleep affect weight management? Scientists have found that two important appetite-control hormones, leptin and ghrelin, are regulated during our sleep cycles. The hormone ghrelin, produced in the stomach, tells our brain we are hungry. The hormone leptin, manufactured in our fat cells, tells our brain when we've had enough to eat. When sleep is restricted, the hormone ghrelin increases telling us we're still hungry even if we've had enough to eat. The hormone leptin decreases, so it takes longer to get the message when we're full. This imbalance can result in overeating and weight gain.
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Atherosclerosis
Obesity and Atherosclerosis : Atherosclerosis is a disease in which hard, fatty deposits called plaque build up inside your arteries. Being obese-defined as having a body mass index over 30--makes it much more likely that you'll develop atherosclerosis.
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Weight Gain & Back Pain
Stress can contribute to, or possibly even cause, back pain. People with unmanaged stress may unconsciously tighten their back muscles, and over time this may result in muscle stiffness or spasm. Some researchers think that stress can also cause constriction in the back’s blood vessels that results in lack of oxygen supply to the soft tissues (like muscles, tendons, ligaments, and nerves), creating tension, spasm, and pain in the area.Poor posture, like hunching over a keyboard or steering wheel for long periods of time, may not cause back pain, but it does increase your risk for back pain if your back has previously been strained or injured. Being overweight, and especially having a big belly, may increase your risk by straining your back. If you are carrying a lot of weight in your abdomen you probably have weak abdominal muscles, and this lack of muscle support can lead to back pain.
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Normal Lung and Airway / Lung and Airway of Obese Man
Obesity and Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea, a sleep disorder, causes sufferers to wake up over and over throughout the night. The condition is also related to obesity.
Obesity is the most powerful risk factor for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). About 70% of people with OSA are obese—that is, they have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater.
What’s more, roughly 40% of obese adults have OSA. Every 22-lb increase in body weight doubles your risk of OSA. Every increase in BMI by 6 quadruples your risk. And no fewer than 98% of people who are severely obese have at least mild OSA.
But there’s good news: when you lose weight, the chances are excellent that sleep apnea symptoms will disappear.
See the physical differences in your airways when you gain weight.
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Cardiovascular Problems of Obesity
Coronary Artery Disease
Plaque Buildup
Stroke
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Cardiovascular Problems of Obesity
Too much fat in the body damages your blood vessels. About three quarters of obese people die of cardiovascular disease.
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Obstructive Sleep Apnea - Normal Lungs and Obese Lungs
Obesity and Sleep Apnea
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Sleep Apnea and Obesity
Obesity and Sleep Apnea : Obesity is the most powerful risk factor for obstructive sleep apnea. About 70% of people with OSA are obese. Roughly 40% of obese men and women have OSA. Waist circumference may be an even stronger predictor of OSA than BMI, weight, or total fat content. Fat cells can infiltrate the tissues of the neck and throat, causing them to enlarge and lose tone. The upper airway becomes more likely to collapse. Excess visceral fat (internal abdominal fat) pushes up on the diaphragm, making deep breathing difficult. The weight of chest fat pushing down on the lungs adds to the difficulty. Sleep apnea can contribute to obesity as well, through fatigue and hormonal disruption.
Interactive by TheVisualMD
Obesity & Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
Obesity & Cancer
Obesity & Infertility/Sexual Dysfunction
Obesity & Back Pain
Obesity & Osteoarthitis
Obesity & Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Obesity & Depression
Obesity & Alzheimer's Disease
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Obesity's Associated Conditions
Obesity can be a causal factor in other conditions.
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Obese man with visible Anatomy Eating a Cookie
Obese man with visible Cardiovascular System Eating a Cookie
Obese man with visible Pancreas Eating a Cookie
Obese man with visible Brain Eating a Cookie
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Obesity, diabetes, and hypertension effect every system and cell in your body
An obese man in a black t-shirt is shown eating a cookie. Some of his anatomy is faintly visible, including his brain, cardiovascular system, pancreas, liver, and adipose tissue. The image introduces a series of facts on the damaging effects of eating too much sugar.
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Obesity and Asthma
TheVisualMD
Obesity and Sleep Apnea
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Consequences of Obesity
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Spinal Consquences of Obesity
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Joint & Pain Consequences of Obesity
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Obesity-associated morbidity
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How Does Obesity Affect Hypertension?
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Obesity & Breast Cancer
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Sleep and Your Weight
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Atherosclerosis
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Weight Gain & Back Pain
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Obesity and Sleep Apnea
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Cardiovascular Problems of Obesity
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Sleep Apnea and Obesity
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Obesity's Associated Conditions
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Obesity, diabetes, and hypertension effect every system and cell in your body
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Eating & Physical Activity
Before - Obese man lifting weights / After - Man lifting weights after weight loss
Exercise Helps Rebuild the Body
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Before - Obese man lifting weights / After - Man lifting weights after weight loss
Exercise Helps Rebuild the Body
Your body is a never-ending construction project. As you read this, old cells in your bones are being broken down and replaced by new ones. Neurons in your brain are making new connections based on information taken in by your senses. When you exercise, muscle cells repair themselves and grow stronger. Nature's regenerative processes are amazing, but remember: You are the foreman of this construction project. Choosing the right combination of aerobic and anaerobic exercise and sticking with your plan will help build a better you. See how exercise builds muscle and helps burn fat.
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Eating & Physical Activity to Lose or Maintain Weight
What options might help you lose weight?
Changing your eating habits is central to losing and maintaining your weight. To lose weight, you have to eat fewer calories and use more calories than you take in. This can be challenging for many people to do for an extended period of time. Emerging research shows that sticking with an eating plan may be more important to losing and maintaining weight than the type of eating plan you follow.
Follow a healthy eating plan
All your food and beverage choices count. Eating healthy is a journey shaped by many factors, including your age, weight, metabolism, food preferences, access to food, culture, and traditions; whether you are a man or woman; and the personal decisions you make over time. A healthy eating plan includes
a variety of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, such as brown rice, oats, and whole-wheat bread
fat-free or low-fat dairy products such as milk, yogurt, and cheese and similar products such as soy beverages
a variety of protein foods, including seafood, lean meats and poultry, eggs, legumes (beans and peas), nuts, seeds, and soy products
oils, such as olive and canola oils and those found in nuts, olives, and avocados
A healthy eating plan also includes
consuming fewer foods and beverages that have refined carbohydrates, added sugars, and salt (sodium)
controlling portion sizes
limiting foods with saturated fats and trans fats, like those found in desserts and fried foods
To learn more about a healthy eating plan and the amounts of food and beverages that are right for you, visit ChooseMyPlate.gov.
A healthy eating plan includes a variety of healthy, nutritious foods.
Get regular physical activity
The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, 2nd edition(PDF, 14.2 MB) define regular physical activity as at least 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity, such as brisk walking. A moderate-intensity aerobic activity makes your heart beat faster and makes you breathe harder but does not overwork or overheat you. This type of physical activity is safe for most people.
People with physical disabilities also can do certain activities, such as wheelchair aerobics or basketball. Talk with your doctor about the types of physical activity that might work well with your abilities.
If you have a health condition such as heart disease, high blood pressure, or diabetes, talk with your doctor before you start regular physical activity. Your doctor can review with you the types and amounts of physical activity that might suit your lifestyle, interests, and skills.
Read Tips to Help You Get Active.
What should I do to stay at a healthy weight?
Recent research has found there are many reasons why it is difficult to keep weight off after losing weight. In addition to metabolism slowing during weight loss, your body needs fewer calories at your new, lower weight. Hormonal and other factors also tend to promote weight regain. People who have kept weight off long-term report needing to keep careful track of their food intake and to do high levels of physical activity. Some people who have reached a healthy weight may find it hard to keep the weight off.
Keep track of your weight
Weigh yourself regularly. Keep a record of your weight to help make sure you are maintaining your weight loss and not regaining weight.
Stick to your healthy eating plan
Continue to make healthy food choices, and make following your healthy eating plan a lifelong habit. Find healthy food options that you prefer and enjoy, as you are more likely to stick with your eating plan.
Continue to make healthy food choices to stay at a healthy weight.
Continue regular physical activity
Regular physical activity may help you keep from regaining weight you’ve lost. Aim for at least 300 minutes a week of moderate-intensity physical activity to prevent regaining weight. Make regular physical activity a lifelong habit.
Take part in a weight-loss maintenance program
If you were overweight or had obesity and lost weight, your doctor may advise you to take part in a program to help you maintain your weight loss. The program may help you stick to your healthy eating and regular physical activity plan, and track your progress.
Source: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Additional Materials (2)
Fit for Life
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Uric Acid: Obesity and Gout
Gout is linked with obesity--and as the incidence of obesity has escalated, so has that of gout. Gout prevalence has doubled over the last 20 years or so. About 70% of people with gout are overweight, and 14% are obese (defined as having a body mass index of 30 or over). People who are obese are two to four times more likely to develop gout and are likely to develop it at a younger age. It's not entirely clear why obesity is linked with gout, but it's thought that it may be due to the increased insulin resistance associated with obesity. Moderate-intensity exercise benefits gout because it helps to control uric acid levels in the body while stretching and strengthening joints. The best forms of exercise for gout place minimal stress on the joints, such as swimming and water aerobics.
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Fit for Life
TheVisualMD
Uric Acid: Obesity and Gout
TheVisualMD
Treatment
Obesity Prevention Starts Early
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Obesity Prevention Starts Early
Today’s generation of children is predicted to have a shorter lifespan, by 2-5 years, than their parents due to obesity and its related conditions. Childhood obesity childhood lays the ground for cardiovascular disease. Studies have found that teenagers can develop well-established fatty streaks (the precursors to plaque) in their coronary artery walls, and children as young as 10 can have plaque that may lead to heart attacks and strokes. Children with high blood cholesterol are likely to have elevated blood cholesterol as they grow older. It’s much easier to prevent obesity than to cure it, so tackle overweight early on to keep your child healthy and fit—for life.
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Treatment for Overweight & Obesity
Common treatments for overweight and obesity include losing weight through healthy eating, being more physically active, and making other changes to your usual habits. Weight-management programs may help some people lose weight or keep from regaining lost weight. Some people who have obesity are unable to lose enough weight to improve their health or are unable to keep from regaining weight. In such cases, a doctor may consider adding other treatments, including weight-loss medicines, weight-loss devices, or bariatric surgery.
Experts recommend losing 5 to 10 percent of your body weight within the first 6 months of treatment. If you weigh 200 pounds, this means losing as little as 10 pounds. Losing 5 to 10 percent of your weight may
help lower your chances of developing health problems related to overweight and obesity
improve health problems related to overweight and obesity, such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels
Healthy eating plan and regular physical activity
Following a healthy eating plan with fewer calories is often the first step in trying to treat overweight and obesity.
People who are overweight or have obesity should also start regular physical activity when they begin their healthy eating plan. Being active may help you use calories. Regular physical activity may help you stay at a healthy weight.
Learn more about healthy eating and physical activity to lose or maintain weight.
When combined with healthy eating, regular physical activity will help you lose weight and stay at a healthy weight.
Changing your habits
Changing your eating and physical activity habits and lifestyle is difficult, but with a plan, effort, regular support, and patience, you may be able to lose weight and improve your health. The following tips may help you think about ways to lose weight, engage in regular physical activity, and improve health over the long-term.
Be prepared for setbacks—they are normal. After a setback, like overeating at a family or workplace gathering, try to regroup and focus on getting back to your healthy eating plan as soon as you can. Try to eat only when you’re sitting at your dining room or kitchen table. At work, avoid areas where treats may be available. Track your progress using online food or physical activity trackers, such as the Body Weight Planner, that can help you keep track of the foods you eat, your physical activity, and your weight. These tools may help you stick with it and stay motivated.
Set goals. Having specific goals can help you stay on track. Rather than “be more active,” set a goal to walk 15 to 30 minutes before work or at lunch on Monday and Friday. If you miss a walk on Monday, pick it up again Tuesday.
Seek support. Ask for help or encouragement from your family, friends, or health care professionals. You can get support in person, through email or texting, or by talking on the phone. You can also join a support group. Specially trained health professionals can help you change your lifestyle.
Weight-management programs
Some people benefit from a formal weight-management program. In a weight-management program, trained weight-management specialists will design a broad plan just for you and help you carry out your plan. Plans include a lower-calorie diet, increased physical activity, and ways to help you change your habits and stick with them. You may work with the specialists on-site (that is, face-to-face) in individual or group sessions. The specialists may contact you regularly by telephone or internet to help support your plan. Devices such as smartphones, pedometers, and accelerometers may help you track how well you are sticking with your plan.
Some people may also benefit from online weight-management programs or commercial weight-loss programs.
Weight-loss medicines
When healthy eating and physical activity habits are not enough, your doctor may prescribe medicines to treat overweight and obesity.
You should try to stick with your healthy eating plan and continue getting regular physical activity while taking weight-loss medicines.
You may see ads for herbal remedies and dietary supplements that claim to help you lose weight. But many of these claims are not true. Some of these supplements can even have serious side effects. Talk with your doctor before taking any over-the-counter herbal remedies or dietary supplements for the purpose of trying to lose weight.
Weight-loss devices
Your doctor may consider weight-loss devices if you haven’t been able to lose weight or keep from gaining back any weight you lost with other treatments. Because weight-loss devices have only recently been approved, researchers do not have long-term data on their safety and effectiveness. Weight-loss devices include
Electrical stimulation system. The electrical stimulation system uses a device a surgeon places in your abdomen with laparoscopic surgery. The device blocks nerve activity between your stomach and brain.
Gastric balloon system. For the gastric balloon system, a doctor places one or two balloons in your stomach through a tube that goes in your mouth. Once the balloons are in your stomach, the surgeon fills them with salt water so they take up more space in your stomach and help you feel fuller.
Gastric emptying system. A gastric emptying system uses a pump to drain part of the food from your stomach after a meal. The device includes a tube that goes from the inside of your stomach to the outside of your abdomen. About 20 to 30 minutes after eating, you use the pump to drain the food from your stomach through the tube into the toilet.
Bariatric surgery
Bariatric surgery includes several types of operations that help you lose weight by making changes to your digestive system. Bariatric surgery may be an option if you have extreme obesity and haven’t been able to lose enough weight to improve your health or keep from gaining back the weight you lost with other treatments. Bariatric surgery also may be an option at lower levels of obesity if you have serious health problems, such as type 2 diabetes or sleep apnea, related to obesity. Bariatric surgery can improve many of the medical conditions linked to obesity, especially type 2 diabetes.
Special diets
Calorie-restricted diets
Your doctor may recommend a lower-calorie diet such as 1,200 to 1,500 calories a day for women and 1,500 to 1,800 calories a day for men. The calorie level depends on your body weight and physical activity level. A lower calorie diet with a variety of healthy foods will give you the nutrients you need to stay healthy.
Intermittent fasting
Intermittent fasting is another way of reducing food intake that is gaining attention as a strategy for weight loss and health benefits. Alternate-day fasting is one type of intermittent fasting that consists of a “fast day” (eating no calories to one-fourth of caloric needs) alternating with a “fed day,” or a day of unrestricted eating. Researchers have conducted only a few studies of intermittent fasting as a strategy for weight loss. They have no long-term data on the safety and effectiveness of intermittent fasting for long-term weight maintenance.
Source: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Obesity and COVID-19
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Break the Cycle and Peel the Layers of Fat Off
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Obesity, Race/Ethnicity, and COVID-19
Obesity is a common, serious, and costly chronic disease. Having obesity puts people at risk for many other serious chronic diseases and increases the risk of severe illness from COVID-19. Everyone has a role to play in turning the tide against obesity and its disproportionate impact on racial and ethnic minority groups.
Adult Obesity is Increasing
2020 Adult Obesity Prevalence Maps
The 2020 CDC Adult Obesity Prevalence Maps show that obesity remains high – sixteen states now have an adult obesity prevalence at or above 35 percent: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia. This is up from twelve states in 2019.
Obesity Worsens Outcomes from COVID-19
Adults with excess weight are at even greater risk during the COVID-19 pandemic:
Having obesity increases the risk of severe illness from COVID-19. People who are overweight may also be at increased risk.
Having obesity may triple the risk of hospitalization due to a COVID-19 infection.
Obesity is linked to impaired immune function.
Obesity decreases lung capacity and reserve and can make ventilation more difficult.
A study of COVID-19 cases suggests that risks of hospitalization, intensive care unit admission, invasive mechanical ventilation, and death are higher with increasing BMI.
The increased risk for hospitalization or death was particularly pronounced in those under age 65.
More than 900,000 adult COVID-19 hospitalizations occurred in the United States between the beginning of the pandemic and November 18, 2020. Models estimate that 271,800 (30.2%) of these hospitalizations were attributed to obesity.
Children diagnosed with obesity may suffer worse outcomes from COVID-19. In a study of COVID-19 cases in patients aged 18 years and younger, having obesity was associated with a 3.07 times higher risk of hospitalization and a 1.42 times higher risk of severe illness (intensive care unit admission, invasive mechanical ventilation, or death) when hospitalized.
Obesity Disproportionately Impacts Some Racial and Ethnic Minority Groups
Combined data from 2018-2020 show notable racial and ethnic disparities:
Non-Hispanic Black adults had the highest prevalence of self-reported obesity (40.7%), followed by Hispanic adults (35.2%), non-Hispanic White adults (30.3%), and non-Hispanic Asian adults (11.6%).
0 states among 35 states and territories with sufficient data had an obesity prevalence of 35 percent or higher among non-Hispanic Asian adults.
7 states among 49 states and territories with sufficient data had an obesity prevalence of 35 percent or higher among non-Hispanic White adults.
22 states among 49 states and territories with sufficient data had an obesity prevalence of 35 percent or higher among Hispanic adults.
35 states and the District of Columbia among 48 states and territories with sufficient data had an obesity prevalence of 35 percent or higher among non-Hispanic Black adults.
Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black adults have a higher prevalence of obesity and are more likely to suffer worse outcomes from COVID-19. Racial and ethnic minority groups have historically not had broad opportunities for economic, physical, and emotional health, and these inequities have increased the risk of getting sick and dying from COVID-19 for some groups. Many of these same factors are contributing to the higher level of obesity in some racial and ethnic minority groups.
What Can be Done
Obesity is a complex disease with many contributing factors. Neighborhood design, access to healthy, affordable foods and beverages, and access to safe and convenient places for physical activity can all impact obesity. The racial and ethnic disparities in obesity underscore the need to address social determinants of health such as poverty, education, and housing to remove barriers to health. This will take action at the policy and systems level to ensure that obesity prevention and management starts early, and that everyone has access to good nutrition and safe places to be physically active. Policy makers and community leaders must work to ensure that their communities, environments, and systems support a healthy, active lifestyle for all.
What CDC, Partners, States, and Communities are Doing
Our work with partners, states, and communities makes it easier for everyone to move more and eat a healthy diet where they live, learn, work, and play. Together, we work to remove barriers and promote health and wellness for all by:
Bringing communities together to plan and carry-out local, culturally tailored interventions to address poor nutrition, and physical inactivity and tobacco use
Promoting healthier food and beverage choices in childcare, schools, workplaces, hospitals, and public venues
Making healthy foods more available by connecting local producers with retailers and organizations such as childcare, schools, hospitals, and food hubs
Promoting nutrition standards in early care and education settings, food pantries, and faith-based organizations
Designing communities that connect sidewalks, bicycle routes, and public transportation with homes, early care and education settings, schools, parks, and workplaces
Ensuring screening for obesity and access to healthy lifestyle programs for children and their families
The epidemic of obesity is impacting the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the added risks associated with COVID-19, we need to support all individuals, especially members of racial and ethnic minority groups, to live active healthy lives.
Steps to Take Now
Systemic change takes time, as does long-term weight loss. In addition to the steps everyone should take to slow the spread of COVID-19, individuals can help protect themselves and their families during this pandemic by:
Eating a healthy diet
Eating a healthy diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables, lean protein, and whole grains as well as the appropriate amount of calories is important for your health, and can help with weight loss and preventing weight gain. Good nutrition can help support optimal immune function. A healthy diet can help prevent or support self-management of diseases such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes, which also increase the risk of severe illness from COVID-19.
Being active
People who do little or no physical activity are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19 than those who are physically active. Regular physical activity helps you feel better, sleep better, and reduce anxiety. It can also help with preventing weight gain and when combined with calorie reduction, helps with weight loss. Physical activity can also help prevent diseases that increase a person’s chances of having severe illness from COVID-19 such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Emerging research suggests it may also help boost immune function.
Getting enough sleep
Insufficient sleep has been linked to depression, as well as chronic diseases that may increase the risk of severe illness from COVID-19 such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity.
Coping with stress
Stress during an infectious disease outbreak can sometimes cause changes in sleep or eating patterns, increased use of alcohol and tobacco, or worsening of chronic health problems.
Over time, these actions can help individuals with obesity improve their overall health. And if they result in even modest weight loss, there are health benefits, such as improvements in blood pressure, blood cholesterol, and blood sugars. And with a healthy BMI, the risk of severe illness from COVID-19 is reduced.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Research
Obese man with visible Cardiovascular System Eating a Cookie
Image by TheVisualMD
Obese man with visible Cardiovascular System Eating a Cookie
An obese man in a black t-shirt is shown eating a cookie. Some of his anatomy is visible, with his heart and blood vessels highlighted. The image accompanies information on the damaging effects on the cardiovascular system when one eats too much sugar. Overeating sugar causes inflammation, which can damage the endothelial lining of blood vessels.
Image by TheVisualMD
Research for Healthy Living: Obesity and Nutrition
More than one-third of U.S. adults — and about 17 percent of U.S. children — are obese. Obesity puts people at risk for many health issues including heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, arthritis, and certain types of cancer. Because these conditions are some of the top preventable causes of chronic illness and death, NIH has a considerable interest in addressing obesity.
The problem of obesity seems straightforward: When we eat more calories than we burn, our bodies store this extra energy as fat. Yet, we all know how hard it can be just to lose a few pounds. And solving this problem on a population-sized scale has proven to be tremendously difficult. That is because so many factors play a role: where we live and work, how much time we spend sitting – and the availability of safe spaces for exercise – and the fact that many people cannot choose alternatives. Access to nutritious food can be a major barrier for many with low incomes or mobility limitations.
Heredity also has an impact. For example, NIH research shows that certain gene variations that occur in one of six people of European descent translate into an extra 7 pounds, on average. Those discoveries are pointing to pathways involved in obesity that suggest potential ways to prevent undesirable weight gain. Research on the social factors contributing to obesity also offers ideas for intervention. When people are provided funds to buy food once a week, instead of monthly, they are more likely to buy fresh fruits and vegetables instead of pre-packaged (and often less-nutritious) goods. We also know that affordable housing programs lead to better nutrition, because people no longer must compromise on food in order to pay rent.
Source: National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Additional Materials (2)
Physical Activity and Childhood Obesity
Making the switch to healthy eating is vital, but physical activity is just as important. Obesity treatment that combines diet changes with increased activity is more successful in fighting obesity than treatment that focuses on diet alone.
Image by TheVisualMD
Fit Food
You want your child to be fit and healthy for a whole lifetime. That’s why it’s so important for you to start helping him or her to develop healthy eating habits now. Changing habits is easier when you’re young. What’s more, tackling overweight early on can prevent many or all of the devastating medical effects of obesity.
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Overweight and Obesity
Overweight and obesity are conditions in which a person’s weight, given their height, is too high and can cause health problems. Obesity carries greater health risks than having overweight. Learn about factors affecting weight, health risks of overweight and obesity, how eating habits and physical activity can help you lose and maintain weight.