Obesity

Obesity - What it is

Obesity refers to having excessive body fat.

Obesity is defined by body mass index (BMI), which is calculated from your height and weight. A person who weighs too much for their height is obese.

Current international guidelines define being overweight as having a BMI of 25 kg/m2 and above, and being obese as having a BMI of 30 kg/m2 and above. Because Asians have a higher risk of health problems at a lower BMI, we should aim for a BMI of below 23 kg/m2.

Obesity is a major risk factor for many serious health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, high cholesterol, sleep apnoea and some cancers.