The World Health Organization (WHO) defines "overweight" as a BMI (body mass index) equal to or more than 25 and "obese" as a BMI equal to or more than 30.
Overweight and obesity lead to serious health consequences. Risk increases progressively as BMI increases. Raised body mass index is a major risk factor for chronic diseases such as:
-Cardiovascular disease (mainly heart disease and stroke) - already the world's #1 cause of death, killing 17 million people each year.
-Diabetes, which has rapidly become a global epidemic. WHO projects that diabetes related deaths will increase by more than 50% worldwide in the next 10 years.
-Musculoskeletal disorders-such as osteoarthritis
-Some cancers (endometrial, breast and colon)
Childhood obesity is associated with a higher chance of premature death and disability in adulthood.
Find out what your BMI is and what you can do to fight obesity at www.self.com
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