Stretch marks due to distension and rupture of the elastic fibers of the skin , vinous in the case of obesity due to endocrinological alteration Cushing. Swelling and varicose veins in the lower limbs. Waist circumference greater than 94 cm in men and 88 cm in women.

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Sign up. Follow us. Childhood obesity often causes complications in a child's physical, social and emotional well-being. Children who have obesity may experience teasing or bullying by their peers. This can result in a loss of self-esteem and an increased risk of depression and anxiety.

Also, be sure your child sees the doctor for well-child checkups at least once a year. During this visit, the doctor measures your child's height and weight and calculates his or her BMI. A significant increase in your child's BMI percentile rank over one year may be a possible sign that your child is at risk of becoming overweight.

Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic Press. This content does not have an English version.

This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Childhood obesity is a serious medical condition that affects children and adolescents. Request an appointment. By Mayo Clinic Staff. Show references Helping your child who is overweight.

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Childhood obesity causes and consequences.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed Oct. Kliegman RM, et al. Overweight and obesity. In: Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics.

Elsevier; Hay WW, et al. Normal childhood nutrition and its disorders. McGraw Hill; Skelton JA. Management of childhood obesity in the primary care setting. Klish WJ, et al. Definition, epidemiology and etiology of obesity in children and adolescents.

Polfuss ML, et al. Childhood obesity: Evidence-based guidelines for clinical practice — Part one. Journal of Pediatric Health Care. Davis RL, et al. Childhood obesity: Evidence-based guidelines for clinical practice — Part two. Related Mayo Clinic Children's Center Pediatric Weight Management Clinic.

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Many health care professionals also measure around a person's waist to help guide treatment decisions. This measurement is called a waist circumference.

Weight-related health problems are more common in men with a waist circumference over 40 inches centimeters. They're more common in women with a waist measurement over 35 inches 89 centimeters. Body fat percentage is another measurement that may be used during a weight loss program to track progress.

If you're concerned about your weight or weight-related health problems, ask your health care professional about obesity management.

You and your health care team can evaluate your health risks and discuss your weight-loss options. There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Sign up for free and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips, current health topics, and expertise on managing health.

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If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices.

You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail. You'll soon start receiving the latest Mayo Clinic health information you requested in your inbox. Although there are genetic, behavioral, metabolic and hormonal influences on body weight, obesity occurs when you take in more calories than you burn through typical daily activities and exercise.

Your body stores these excess calories as fat. In the United States, most people's diets are too high in calories — often from fast food and high-calorie beverages. People with obesity might eat more calories before feeling full, feel hungry sooner, or eat more due to stress or anxiety.

Many people who live in Western countries now have jobs that are much less physically demanding, so they don't tend to burn as many calories at work. Even daily activities use fewer calories, courtesy of conveniences such as remote controls, escalators, online shopping, and drive-through restaurants and banks.

The genes you inherit from your parents may affect the amount of body fat you store, and where that fat is distributed. Genetics also may play a role in how efficiently your body converts food into energy, how your body regulates your appetite and how your body burns calories during exercise.

Obesity tends to run in families. That's not just because of the genes they share. Family members also tend to share similar eating and activity habits. In some people, obesity can be traced to a medical cause, such as hypothyroidism, Cushing syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome and other conditions.

Medical problems, such as arthritis, also can lead to decreased activity, which may result in weight gain. Some medicines can lead to weight gain if you don't compensate through diet or activity.

These medicines include steroids, some antidepressants, anti-seizure medicines, diabetes medicines, antipsychotic medicines and certain beta blockers. Social and economic factors are linked to obesity. It's hard to avoid obesity if you don't have safe areas to walk or exercise.

You may not have learned healthy ways of cooking. Or you may not have access to healthier foods. Also, the people you spend time with may influence your weight.

You're more likely to develop obesity if you have friends or relatives with obesity. Obesity can occur at any age, even in young children. But as you age, hormonal changes and a less active lifestyle increase your risk of obesity.

The amount of muscle in your body also tends to decrease with age. Lower muscle mass often leads to a decrease in metabolism. These changes also reduce calorie needs and can make it harder to keep off excess weight.

If you don't consciously control what you eat and become more physically active as you age, you'll likely gain weight. Even if you have one or more of these risk factors, it doesn't mean that you're destined to develop obesity.

You can counteract most risk factors through diet, physical activity and exercise. Behavior changes, medicines and procedures for obesity also can help. People with obesity are more likely to develop a number of potentially serious health problems, including:.

Obesity can diminish the overall quality of life. You may not be able to do physical activities that you used to enjoy. You may avoid public places. People with obesity may even encounter discrimination. Obesity care at Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products.

Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic Press.

This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Obesity is a complex disease involving having too much body fat.

More Information Obesity care at Mayo Clinic What is insulin resistance? A Mayo Clinic expert explains. Request an appointment.

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By Mayo Clinic Staff. Show references Overweight and obesity. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Accessed Dec. Goldman L, et al. In: Goldman-Cecil Medicine. Elsevier; Kellerman RD, et al. Obesity in adults. In: Conn's Current Therapy There are three main types of weight-loss surgeries, which include:.

Finally, your healthcare provider may recommend a weight-loss device. Unlike surgery, these devices do not permanently change your stomach size.

However, weight-loss devices are still considered a new treatment and more research is needed to understand their effectiveness.

If your provider recommends a weight-loss device, your options may include:. Many of the factors that lead to obesity can be changed. In most cases, obesity is reversible and even preventable. The lifestyle changes that you can use to treat obesity can also prevent the condition.

To lower your risk of obesity, follow these guidelines:. As a result, obesity can increase inflammation in your body and increase your risk of the following conditions:. It's also important to note that some conditions can actually cause weight gain and increase your risk of obesity.

Health conditions that can contribute to obesity include:. Obesity is a chronic condition that affects many areas of your life. Fortunately, the condition is treatable.

However, adhering to your treatment plan can be quite challenging at times as it may require you to make significant changes to your lifestyle habits.

That said, finding support through your healthcare team and loved ones can aid your treatment. Research shows that obesity can also affect your mental health and well-being.

People with obesity are more likely to experience chronic stress, low self-esteem, and depression. This may be due to the fact that people with obesity are more likely to experience weight-related bias and stigma.

If you're experiencing changes to your emotional wellness, consider seeking support from a mental health therapist or support group. Your metabolism determines how your body burns calories from food for energy.

Your genes can affect your metabolism, so it may not be possible to alter it. However, you can increase the number of calories your body burns by exercising, lifting weights, and getting good quality sleep.

Obesity on its own is not considered a disability by the Americans with Disabilities Act ADA. However, obesity may lead to chronic conditions that may be included under the ADA. The time it takes to treat obesity depends on each person and several other factors including the severity of the condition and your overall health.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Obesity basics. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Overweight and obesity. Değirmenci T, Kalkan-oğuzhanoğlu N, Sözeri-varma G, Özdel O, Fenkçi S. Psychological symptoms in obesity and related factors. Noro Psikiyatr Ars.

Hruby A, Hu FB. The epidemiology of obesity: A big picture. Body mass index BMI. Wadden TA, Tronieri JS, Butryn ML. Lifestyle modification approaches for the treatment of obesity in adults. Am Psychol. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

Food and Drug Administration. Medications containing semaglutide marketed for type 2 diabetes or weight loss. Types of weight-loss surgery. World Health Organization. Can you boost your metabolism? Society for Human Resource Management. Obesity alone is not a disability under the ADA.

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By Carrie Madormo, RN, MPH. Carrie Madormo, RN, MPH. Carrie Madormo, RN, MPH, is a health writer. She has over a decade of experience as a registered nurse, practicing in a variety of fields, such as pediatrics, oncology, chronic pain, and public health.

health's editorial guidelines. Medically reviewed by Isabel Casimiro, MD, PhD. Isabel Casimiro, MD, PhD, is an endocrinologist at the University of Chicago in Illinois.

As a physician-scientist in molecular biology, she uses her research on diabetes, lipid disorders, cardiovascular function, and more to provide comprehensive care to her patients. Her research findings have been published in several scientific and medical journals, including Cell Metabolism and the Journal of the Endocrine Society.