From the World Health Organization (WHO) ’s fact sheet Overweight and obesity are defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk to health. A body mass index (BMI) over 25 is considered overweight, and over 30 is obese. The issue has grown to epidemic proportions, with over 4 million people dying each year as a result of being overweight or obese in 2017 according to the global burden of disease.
Overweight and obesity are major risk factors for a number of chronic diseases, including:
Type 2 diabetes
Cardiovascular diseases
Cancer
Hypertension
Stroke
Mental health issues