Obesity and BMI: The Cutoffs Weight Loss Labels Use
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[Glossary · How doses act in the body]

Obesity

Also called BMI 30 or higher, overweight, severe obesity, body mass index · Reviewed

Definition: Obesity is a common, chronic disease marked by an unhealthy amount of body fat, as the NCI dictionary puts it. In practice it is defined by body mass index (BMI), weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. NIDDK lists a BMI of 30 or more in adults as obesity, 25 to 29.9 as overweight, and 40 or more as severe obesity.

Working out BMI

Worked example

  1. Weight 95 kg, height 1.75 m.
  2. 1.75 x 1.75 = 3.06.
  3. 95 / 3.06 = 31.0, which falls in the obesity range on the NIDDK table.

NIDDK cites survey data from 2017 to 2018 showing 42.4% of US adults have obesity and 9.2% severe obesity. The NCI lists heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, sleep apnea, arthritis, kidney disease and some cancers among the problems it can lead to.

How labels use the word

Wegovy, Zepbound and Saxenda are approved, with a reduced-calorie diet and more activity, for adults with obesity, or with overweight plus at least one weight-related condition. Wegovy is also approved to lower the risk of major heart events in adults with heart disease and obesity or overweight, and Zepbound to treat moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesity.

Why it matters for your log

Weekly weigh-ins next to dose dates and titration steps show how weight moved at each dose, which is what a prescriber looks at before the next step.

Read more on Dose Track: Weight loss · Wegovy side effects · Zepbound side effects · Wegovy vs Zepbound

General education drawn from labels and published studies, not personal medical advice. Your prescriber, pharmacist and the label that came with your product are the final word.
GLP-1 receptor agonistA GLP-1 receptor agonist is a drug that switches on the same receptor as GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1),… Titration (dose escalation)Titration means adjusting a dose in planned steps, usually starting low and going up, until a target or… Sleep apneaSleep apnea is a common condition in which breathing stops and restarts many times during sleep, NHLBI… Type 2 diabetesType 2 diabetes is a long-term disease in which blood glucose (blood sugar) is higher than normal because… Insulin resistanceInsulin resistance is a condition in which the body does not respond to insulin the way it should. NIDDK…

Frequently asked questions

What BMI counts as obesity?+
NIDDK lists a BMI of 30 or more in adults as obesity, 25 to 29.9 as overweight and 40 or more as severe obesity.
How is BMI worked out?+
Weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. For example, 95 kg at 1.75 m is 95 divided by 3.06, about 31.

Sources

  1. NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms: obesity
  2. NIDDK (NIH): Overweight and obesity statistics
  3. Wegovy (semaglutide) US prescribing information, DailyMed
  4. Zepbound (tirzepatide) US prescribing information, DailyMed
  5. Saxenda (liraglutide) US prescribing information, DailyMed

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