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Defining Obesity

Researchers use an estimate of an individual’s relative fat and muscle mass, called body mass index, to define obesity. To find your BMI, check out this calculator.

Adults with a BMI of between 25 and 30 are considered overweight. Those with a BMI over 30 are obese.

Morbid obesity applies to adults with a BMI over 40 or who are more than 100 pounds overweight.

Source: The National Library of Medicine.

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