obesity

American  

[oh-bee-si-tee] / oʊˈbi sɪ ti /

Sometimes obeseness

noun

• obesities
  plural

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

Derived Forms

• overobesity
  noun
• antiobesity
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• obesities
  plural

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

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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

obesity obesities

Jack Birch, who researches public health and obesity at Newcastle University, says there is growing academic interest in how men and women approach using weight-loss drugs differently.

From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2026

A recent study estimated, external 1.6 million adults in England, Wales and Scotland used weight-loss drugs in 2024-25, most buying them privately, and the North East has the highest adult obesity rates in England.

From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2026

Mexican Americans, who make up the largest Hispanic population in the United States, also have particularly high rates of diabetes, obesity and dyslipidemia, conditions that can increase dementia risk.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 16, 2026

Many factors can contribute to obesity, but researchers are increasingly interested in the role of high fat foods that are readily available in grocery stores.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 13, 2026

The rate of childhood obesity was rising all around the country.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

It does not require a Paxton to know that a hole in the stage two feet square, will not hold Barnum's obesities.

From Physiology of The Opera by John H. Swaby