obesity

noun

obe·​si·​ty ō-ˈbē-sə-tē 

: a condition characterized by the excessive accumulation and storage of fat in the body

Obesity affects not just appearance, but disease processes as well.

—Malorye Allison

Synonyms

• adiposity
• chubbiness
• corpulence
• corpulency
• embonpoint
• fat
• fatness
• fattiness
• fleshiness
• grossness
• plumpness
• portliness
• pudginess
• pursiness
• rotundity
• weight

Examples of obesity in a Sentence

obesity has been linked to a number of health risks, such as heart disease

Recent Examples on the Web

In one study of men with overweight and obesity, men who did fasted treadmill workouts five days a week for six weeks saw lower fasting insulin levels. —Jillian Kubala, Health, 19 Feb. 2025

Studies do not suggest vaccines or SSRIs are to blame for chronic illnesses, such as autism or obesity. —Anne Flaherty, ABC News, 18 Feb. 2025

Image But the biggest factor, doctors said, is likely the rise in metabolic risk factors like obesity and diabetes — and in ever-younger patients. —Nina Agrawal, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2025

This can lead to a cycle of overeating, which can result in overeating and weight gain or obesity. —Allison Futterman, Discover Magazine, 15 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French obesité, borrowed from Latin obēsitāt-, obēsitās, from obēsus "fat, stout" + -itāt-, -itās -ity — more at obese

First Known Use

circa 1611, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing obesity

• anti-obesity

Medical Definition

obesity

noun

obe·​si·​ty ō-ˈbē-sət-ē 

plural obesities

: a condition that is characterized by excessive accumulation and storage of fat in the body and that in an adult is typically indicated by a body mass index of 30 or greater