Glossary of obesity
Glossary of obesity
Plain-language definitions of obesity, BMI, visceral fat, satiety, food noise, metabolic adaptation, medication and maintenance.
Using the obesity glossary
Modern obesity care uses biological, nutritional, behavioral and treatment terminology. These definitions use respectful, clinically oriented language and link concepts that patients encounter during care.
Obesity terms A–Z
A
- Adipose tissue
- Body tissue that stores energy and acts as an endocrine organ.
- Anti-obesity medication
- Prescription treatment approved to support chronic weight management in eligible patients.
B
- Bariatric surgery
- Metabolic operations such as sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass.
- BMI
- Weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared; a screening tool with limitations.
C
- Central obesity
- Excess fat concentrated around the abdomen.
- Comorbidity
- A condition occurring alongside obesity, such as hypertension or sleep apnea.
E
- Energy balance
- Relationship between energy consumed and expended, regulated by biology and environment.
F
- Food noise
- Informal term for persistent or intrusive thoughts about food.
I
- Incretin
- A gut hormone pathway influencing insulin, glucagon, appetite and digestion.
L
- Lean mass
- Nonfat body mass, including muscle, organs, bone and water.
M
- Metabolic adaptation
- Changes in appetite and energy expenditure that resist continued loss or favor regain.
O
- Obesity
- A chronic disease involving excess or dysfunctional body fat that impairs health.
S
- Sarcopenic obesity
- Coexistence of excess adiposity and low muscle mass or function.
- Satiety
- The feeling of fullness that persists after eating.
V
- Visceral fat
- Fat surrounding internal abdominal organs and associated with metabolic risk.
W
- Waist circumference
- A measure used with other factors to estimate central fat and risk.
- Weight cycling
- Repeated loss and regain.
- Weight maintenance
- Long-term preservation of clinically meaningful weight and health improvements.
Person-first, nonstigmatizing language
Terms should describe a health condition, not define a person. Obesity is influenced by genetics, appetite biology, medications, sleep, environment and social conditions; it is not evidence of weak character.
How W8MD can help
W8MD explains treatment choices in plain language and uses weight, waist, body-composition context, complications and patient priorities rather than relying on BMI alone.
Frequently asked questions
Is BMI a diagnosis?
No. It is a screening measure interpreted with other clinical findings.
Is obesity chronic?
Yes. Regain biology means long-term treatment and maintenance are often needed.
Are all GLP-1 medicines approved for obesity?
No. Product-specific indication and brand matter.
Authoritative sources
Understand your medical weight-management options
W8MD Weight Loss, Sleep & MedSpa provides physician-supervised care in Brooklyn, New York and Northeast Philadelphia. Telehealth may be available for eligible patients based on location and applicable requirements.
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