Obesity Defined

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) states that anybody with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or higher is obese. While a BMI calculator has it's drawbacks, it's a great tool for the majority of people who would like to understand more about their weight as it relates to their age, height and gender. You can check your BMI by using the simple CDC BMI calculator in the link below.

What the The Experts Say

What the Scientists Say

Most researchers in the field of weight loss and obesity believe that obesity is genetic. In order to gain weight, excess fat accumulates in fat cells. Some researchers believe that certain people are genetically pre dispositional to have more fat cells than others. If you have more fat cells, as the theory goes, it will be much easier for your body to gain and hold onto excess weight. If your body retains too much excess weight, you run the risk of becoming obese.

What the Fitness Professionals Say

Fitness professionals take a different point of view. Personal trainers, fitness experts and fitness class instructors do not use research data when it comes to the cause of obesity. Fitness professionals are on the front lines of the obesity epidemic. They are right there with their clients every step of the way and good fitness professionals see amazing transformations, along with stories of weight loss success, from their clients. It would be difficult to find a trainer who believes that hard work in the gym and a healthy lifestyle cannot fight obesity.

What You Can Do

Until Scientists and fitness experts come to a conclusion regarding the cause(s) of obesity, you can take on the battle yourself. Implement a simple, yet effective, health and fitness plan that includes the basics: cardiovascular activity, resistance training, flexibility workouts and a healthy diet.