More and more people each year are reported to be obese or overweight. However, many are confused with the difference between being overweight and obesity.

The difference basically lies on how much excess weight you have, which can be easily measured through calculating your BMI or your body mass index. The BMI or the body mass index can be derived by dividing your weight in pounds by your height in inches squared and then multiply this number by 703.  It also can be calculated by dividing your weight in kilograms by your height squared in meters. 

A person with a body mass index that falls below 18.5 can be classified as underweight, between 18.5 and 25 as a person with optimal weight, between 25 and 29.9 as overweight and a person with a body mass index of over 30 is classified as someone who is obese. If the body mass index is over 40, it can already be considered as morbid obesity.

However, a high body mass index does not necessarily mean that a person is overweight or obese. Athletes and bodybuilders have high BMI because of their muscles and not because of excess fat.

There are a number of factors which could cause obesity or being overweight. The first one would be eating habits. If a person has poor eating habits like skipping meals only to binge later or snacking on too many food choices which have high calories and carbohydrates, it is very likely that he or she will ultimately be obese or overweight. Another factor is not being able to get enough exercise or physical activity to help in burning calories and to make the body more fit. Environment is also considered to be another factor. If a person is exposed to a home or workplace that encourages unhealthy lifestyle choices, it could result in a tendency to be obese or overweight. It is important to be in an environment that provides opportunities to lead an active and healthy lifestyle. Another factor would be genetics or heredity. A person’s ability to burn off calories for energy could be attributed to genes. There are some people that have bodies which have slower metabolic rates compared to others. Some other factors which could influence the chances of becoming obese or overweight would include age, health conditions, emotional and mental conditions and medication.

Obesity and being overweight can greatly affect your health and you are prone to suffering from various health conditions like stroke, heart disease, diabetes, cancer, sleep apnea, gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis and a lot more.

Keep in mind that a person becomes overweight first before becoming obese. If you are in the overweight range, it would be important to take control of your weight as you try to shed the excess pounds. If you are in the obese range, it would be essential to research on what natural and healthy steps you can take to eventually return to the normal weight range. It is crucial to try leading a lifestyle which is as healthy and as active as possible to ensure that your body would always be fit, preventing any health conditions or diseases.