Overweight vs. Obesity… Is There a Difference?

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases reported that out of one hundred people per group surveyed, Black people are at the top of the list for those living with obesity at 48%, Hispanics ranked second at 42 percent, and white people ranked 36 percent. What makes one group more predisposed to obesity than another? Some factors include lifestyle choices, access to healthier options (grocery stores, restaurants, farmers’ markets, etc.), culture, and tradition.  Overweight and obesity – it sounds the same, right? Contrary to popular belief, being overweight and obese are two different things! Yes, there are similarities, but they differ. Your “body mass index (BMI) is one way to tell if you are at a healthy weight, overweight, or have obesity. The BMI is a measure based on your weight in relation to your height. The greater your BMI, the greater your risk of health problems from being overweight and obese.” So, what is classified as being overweight? An overweight person has excess heavy muscles, extra body fat, and fluids. This is more common among men. Whereas obesity pertains to the total number of excess body fat one carries and is most common among women.  Knowing...