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What is obesity?

Worldwide, obesity kills almost 3 million people each year.2

Obesity is now widely considered a chronic disease.1

Explore this website to further understand the science behind obesity. Then visit your GP to discover science based treatment options.

What you need to know

  • Obesity is now recognized worldwide as a chronic disease with severe health and quality of life consequences.1-3
  • Misinformation and misunderstandings of obesity’s scientific causes and treatments are widespread.3
  • The stigma of obesity means people are wrongly blamed by society for their disease and discriminated against.2,4

Calculate your Body Mass Index (BMI)

Body mass index, or BMI, is a calculation based on your height and weight to place you in a weight category: underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese.5,6,7

BMI is a very general measure that places you in 1 of 6 broad weight categories – underweight, normal weight, overweight, obese.8

cm
kg

Your BMI is
22.22
which indicates you're in the healthy category.Let your doctor know at your next annual visit.

Below 18

Underweight

Increased risk of comorbidity

18 - 25

Normal weight

Low risk of comorbidity

25 - 30

Overweight

Increased risk of comorbidity

30 - 35

Obese I

Moderate risk of comorbidity

35 - 40

Obese II

Severe risk of comorbidity

40 - 45

Obese III

Very severe risk of comorbidity

BMI classes and comorbidity risks8

Classification BMI Risk of Comorbidities
Classification

Underweight

BMI

Less than 18

Risk of Comorbidities

Increased

Classification

Normal weight

BMI

18 – 25

Risk of Comorbidities

Low

Classification

Overweight

BMI

25-30

Risk of Comorbidities

Increased

Classification

Obese I

BMI

30-35

Risk of Comorbidities

Moderate

Classification

Obese II

BMI

35-40

Risk of Comorbidities

Severe

Classification

Obese III

BMI

40 or greater

Risk of Comorbidities

Very severe

Understanding obesity

   

Learn more

References

1. Bray G, et al. Obesity: a chronic relapsing progressive disease process. A position statement of the World Obesity Federation, Obesity Rev 2017; 18(7); 715–23.

2. Wolfenden L, et al.  The challenge for global health systems in preventing and managing obesity. Obesity Reviews. 2019;(S2):185–193.

3. Caterson I, et al. Gaps to bridge: Misalignment between perception, reality and actions in obesity, Diabetes Obes Metab 2019; 21(8): 1914–24. 

4. Oldham M, Robinson E. Visual body size norms and the under-detection of overweight and obesity. Obes Sci Pract 2017; 4(1): 29–40.

5. RACP. Action to prevent obesity and reduce its impact across the life course – Evidence Review. 2018. Available at https://www.racp.edu.au/docs/default-source/advocacy-library/racp-obesity-position-statement.pdf

6. Bray G, et al. The Science of Obesity Management: An Endocrine Society Scientific Statement. Obesity Rev 2018; 39; 79-132

7. ANZOS and ADS. 2019. The Australian Obesity Management Algorithm. Available at: http://anzos.com/assets/Obesity-Management-Algorithm-18.10.2016.pdf. Accessed September 2019.

8. RACGP Smoking, nutrition, alcohol, physical activity (SNAP): A population health guide to behavioural risk factors in general practice, 2nd edition. Melbourne: Available at https://www.racgp.org.au/FSDEDEV/media/documents/Clinical%20Resources/Guidelines/SNAP-guideline.pdf. Accessed December 2019.