Obesity is a term that means you have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher. It makes you more likely to have conditions including:
- Heart disease and stroke
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Some cancers
- Gallbladder disease and gallstones
- Osteoarthritis
- Gout
- Breathing problems, such as sleep apnea (when a person stops breathing for short episodes during sleep) and asthma
Not everyone who is obese has these problems. The risk rises if you have a family history of one of those conditions.
Also, where your weight is may matter. If it’s mostly around your stomach (the “apple” shape), that may be riskier than if you have a “pear” shape, meaning that your extra weight is mostly around your hips and buttocks.
Here’s a closer look at seven conditions that are linked to being obese or overweight.
