Obesity and overweight are defined by Body Mass Index (BMI), the measure of body fat defined as body weight divided by the square of your height. Calculate your BMI by using the interactive U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's Body Mass Index calculator, at http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health (look under "Health Assessment Tools," and select "Body Mass Index (BMI) Calculator") [provides both Metric and US measurements].  A BMI over 25 kg/m2 is defined as overweight, and a BMI of over 30 kg/m2 as obese. 

Overweight and obesity can be life threatening, in that excess weight can result in:

• Cardiovascular disease

• Type 2 diabetes

• Cancer of the breast, colon, prostrate, endometrium, kidney and gallbladder

Overweight or obesity can also significantly hamper quality of life.  Excess weight is associated with respiratory difficulties, chronic musculoskeletal problems, skin problems and infertility.  Chronic overweight and obesity contribute significantly to osteoarthritis, a major cause of disability in adults.

"By 2015, approximately 2.3 billion adults [worldwide] will be overweight and more than 700 million will be obese." ~ World Health Organization