obesity

noun

obe·​si·​ty ō-ˈbē-sə-tē How to pronounce obesity (audio)
Synonyms of obesitynext
: a condition characterized by the excessive accumulation and storage of fat in the body
Obesity affects not just appearance, but disease processes as well.—Malorye Allison

Synonyms of obesity

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Examples of obesity in a Sentence

obesity has been linked to a number of health risks, such as heart disease
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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Neither of Monday’s announcements are likely to immediately impact American diets, which are packed with fats, sodium and sugar and are blamed for a host of chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes and heart disease. — Matthew Perrone, Fortune, 11 Aug. 2026 Patients could be directed to manufacturer support programs, specialty obesity clinics, telehealth services, or self-navigation resources instead. — Jeffrey Millstein, STAT, 11 Aug. 2026 Insulin revolutionized diabetes treatment while GLP-1 drugs have helped people with obesity and diabetes lose substantial weight and improve their health. — Robert Pearl, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026 But Bernie says there are often other contributing factors in younger and middle-aged men beyond aging, like obesity, diabetes, sleep apnea, drug use and other medical conditions. — Will Stone, NPR, 10 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for obesity

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French obesité, borrowed from Latin obēsitāt-, obēsitās, from obēsus "fat, stout" + -itāt-, -itās -ity — more at obese

First Known Use

circa 1611, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of obesity was circa 1611

Phrases Containing obesity

Browse Nearby Words

obese
obesity
obesogenic
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Cite this Entry

“Obesity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/obesity. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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Medical Definition

obesity

noun
obe·​si·​ty ō-ˈbē-sət-ē How to pronounce obesity (audio)
plural obesities
: a condition that is characterized by excessive accumulation and storage of fat in the body and that in an adult is typically indicated by a body mass index of 30 or greater

More from Merriam-Webster on obesity

Nglish: Translation of obesity for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about obesity

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