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Obese is a term used to describe a person carrying excess body fat and who is significantly overweight. A test commonly used to determine obesity is BMI, &nbsp;a BMI score of 30-39.9 tells us a person is obese whilst a score of 40+ tells us they are severly obese. Another test used to indicate obesity is waist circumference measurements, a male with a waist of 94cm or higher or a female with a waist of 80cm or higher is likely to be obese.&nbsp;

== Causes of obesity ==

Obesity is due to a calorie imbalance, this is when a person consumes more calories than they use up during exercise, any excess calories will be stored as fat. Obesity is a rapidly increasing problem due to modern society and lifestyle, such as the easy access to high-calorie low price food options and an increasingly sedentary lifestyle<ref>Obesity. http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Obesity/Pages/Introduction.aspx (accessed 15 June 2016)</ref>. It is recommended for a adult female to consume 2000 calories a day whilst an adult male should consume 2500 calories a day assuming they are physically active. People easily consume over these recommended amounts if they eat large portions, drink too many alcoholic or sugary drinks or eat processed or fast food on a regular basis. Also improved transport now means less people walk and cycle instead opting for easier options such as using a car<ref>Causes of obesity. http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Obesity/Pages/Causes.aspx (accessed 15 June 2016)</ref>.&nbsp;

Health problems may also contribute to obesity such as hypothyroidism, this is where a person has an underactive thyroid gland which can lead to weight gain if not controlled by medication.

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