The Difference Between Overweight and Obese

Overweight versus Obesity

It’s important to understand the difference between the terms overweight and obese. Overweight refers to an excess of body weight compared to set standards. The excess weight may come from muscle, bone, fat, and/or body water. Obesity refers specifically to having an abnormally high proportion of body fat. A person can be overweight without being obese, such as a bodybuilder or an athlete who has a lot of muscle. However, many people who are overweight are also obese.

In the United States, there is a substantial increase in overweight and obese individuals among all ages, genders and races. In order to control the obesity epidemic, it’s important to understand why these increases have occurred, and what can be done to reverse these trends.