Obesest: meaning, definitions and examples

Etymology

• The root 'obese' comes from Latin 'obesus', meaning 'fat' or 'plump', which itself derives from 'edere', meaning 'to eat'.
• Adding 'est' forms a superlative, indicating the extreme degree of a quality, similar to 'smartest' or 'biggest'.
• The term has gained more visibility in discussions about health and diet in the last few decades.

Health and Medicine

• Obesity is classified using Body Mass Index (BMI), where a score above 30 is considered obese.
• It's linked to various health conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) declared obesity a global epidemic in 1997.

Cultural Perspectives

• Different cultures perceive body size differently; some celebrate large bodies as symbols of wealth and fertility.
• In many Western societies, there is a growing movement challenging the stigma associated with obesity, promoting body positivity.
• Historical attitudes towards weight can be seen in artworks; for example, many Renaissance paintings celebrated fuller figures as signs of health and beauty.

Psychology

• Individuals with obesity often face social stigma, which can lead to feelings of shame and lower self-esteem.
• Eating habits can be influenced by emotional states; stress and depression may lead individuals to overeat or choose unhealthy foods.
• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is often recommended to help change thought patterns related to eating and body image.

Statistics

• As of 2021, roughly 1.9 billion adults worldwide were classified as obese, making up about 39% of the adult population.
• In many countries, the obesity rate has more than doubled since 1975, indicating a significant public health concern.
• Childhood obesity is also rising, with an estimated 39 million children under the age of 5 being overweight or obese in 2020.