obesity
n. the condition of having excess body fat resulting in overweight, variously defined in terms of absolute weight, weight–height ratio (see body mass index), distribution of subcutaneous fat, and societal and aesthetic norms. The basic causes are genetic, environmental, behavioral, or some interaction of these. Overeating may have a psychological cause (see binge-eating disorder; food addiction; night-eating syndrome), but in some cases, it may be due to an organic disorder (see hyperphagia). Obesity predisposes one to heart disease, diabetes, and other serious medical conditions (see morbid obesity), and obese individuals may develop emotional and psychological problems relating to body image. Therapeutic approaches to obesity include diets, exercise programs, nutritional education, drug therapy, behavior modification of eating patterns, hormonal treatment
when indicated, group support, hypnotherapy, and psychodynamic psychotherapy focused on insight into the nonconscious purposes served by the individual’s excessive food intake. Bariatric surgery, or gastrointestinal surgery to reduce nutrient intake and absorption in order to induce weight loss, may also be performed in individuals with morbid obesity. —obese
adj.