obesity
Americannoun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of obesity
First recorded in 1605–15; from Middle French obésité, from Latin obēsitāt-, stem of obēsitās, equivalent to obēs(us) obese ( def. ) + -i- ( def. ) + -tās -ty 2 ( def. )
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Explanation
Obesity is the condition of being more overweight than is considered average or healthy. The noun obesity was first used around 1610 and has origins in the Latin word obesitas, meaning "fatness" or "corpulence." During the Middle Ages, obesity was a sign of wealth and prosperity indicating that you had enough money to buy and eat all the food you wanted while others starved. Nowadays, research has shown that having too much fat can cause a number of related health problems. A healthy diet and fitness regime is a great way for someone to shed excess pounds and avoid obesity.
Vocabulary lists containing obesity
"A Rose for Emily"
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List 2
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Nutrition - Introductory
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Lilly is listed as a collaborator on a study at Johns Hopkins University testing whether tirzepatide, the main ingredient in Mounjaro, can reduce binge-eating episodes in adults with obesity and binge-eating disorder.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 8, 2026
But admits she is apprehensive about relying on them for solving the obesity issue.
From BBC • Jul. 6, 2026
Because growth hormone also helps regulate glucose and fat metabolism, consistently poor sleep may increase the risk of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
From Science Daily • Jul. 5, 2026
She worries about rising rates of childhood obesity and diabetes.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 5, 2026
I’m excited to talk about all of these except the one about obesity.
From "Watch Us Rise" by Renée Watson and Ellen Hagan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
