obesity

American  

[oh-bee-si-tee] / oʊˈbi sɪ ti /

Sometimes obeseness

noun

1. the condition of being very fat or overweight; corpulence.

   His obesity puts him at risk for major health problems.

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obesity Scientific  

/ ō-bē′sĭ-tē /

1. The condition of being obese; increased body weight caused by excessive accumulation of fat.

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Other Word Forms

• antiobesity adjective
• overobesity noun

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. )

Compare meaning

How does obesity compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• anorexia vs. obesity

Example Sentences

People who carry variations in two genes linked to appetite and digestion can lose more weight when taking drugs such as Wegovy and Mounjaro to treat obesity, research suggests.

From BBC • Apr. 8, 2026

They both sell GLP-1 injections for obesity and Type 2 diabetes, in addition to the new oral GLP-1 pills for weight loss.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 8, 2026

While Morgan Stanley is broadly constructive on the development of obesity medications, the haves and have-nots in the industry are beginning to emerge.

From Barron's • Apr. 7, 2026

Rival Eli Lilly began shipping its own obesity pill in the U.S. on Monday.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026

Even military leaders were reporting that obesity was one of the most common disqualifiers for service.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama