Glossary of obesity

From WikiMD's Wellnesspedia

  • Abdominal obesity- A condition characterized by excessive fat accumulation around the abdomen.
  • Acanthosis nigricans- A skin condition characterized by dark, velvety patches on the neck, armpits, and groin.
  • Added sugar- Refined sugar added to food and drinks during processing and preparation.
  • Added sugar- Sugar that is added to food products, distinct from naturally occurring sugars.
  • Adenovirus serotype 36- A virus that has been linked to obesity in some individuals.
  • Adipomastia- Excessive growth of the mammary glands due to an increase in fatty tissue.
  • Adiponectin- A hormone produced by adipose tissue that regulates metabolism and glucose levels.
  • Adiponectin- A hormone secreted by adipose tissue that regulates metabolism.
  • Adipose tissue- Body fat, stored in various locations throughout the body.
  • Adipose tissue macrophages- Immune cells found in adipose tissue that play a role in the regulation of metabolism.
  • Adipose tissue macrophages- Immune cells found in adipose tissue.
  • Agouti-related peptide- A hormone that regulates the body's energy balance and food intake.
  • Agouti-related peptide- A hormone involved in regulation of appetite and energy balance.
  • Amphetamine- A stimulant drug used for weight loss.
  • Android fat distribution- A pattern of fat distribution characterized by excess fat accumulation in the abdominal region.
  • Android fat distribution- A pattern of fat distribution characterized by accumulation around the waist, as opposed to the hips and thighs.
  • Angus Barbieri's fast- A fast lasting 382 days, completed by a Scottish man in 1965 as a means of achieving weight loss.
  • Angus Barbieri's fast- A medically supervised fast lasting 382 days.
  • Anti Obesity Day- A global awareness day observed annually to highlight the problem of obesity.
  • Anti-Obesity Day- An annual observance aimed at promoting healthy habits to prevent and manage obesity.
  • Anti-obesity activists- Individuals who advocate for policies and initiatives aimed at reducing the incidence of obesity.
  • Anti-obesity activists- Individuals or groups who advocate for measures to prevent and treat obesity.
  • Antiobesity drugs- Medications used to treat obesity.
  • Arteriosclerosis- Hardening and narrowing of the arteries due to a buildup of plaque.
  • Aseem Malhotra- A British consultant cardiologist known for his criticism of the role of sugar in the development of obesity and related diseases.
  • Aspiration therapy- A surgical procedure used to remove excess fat from the body.
  • Asprosin- A hormone produced in the liver that regulates glucose levels and appetite.
  • Asprosin- A protein that stimulates hunger and contributes to weight gain.
  • Atherosclerosis- A disease characterized by the buildup of plaque in the arteries.
  • Atkins diet- A low-carbohydrate diet popularized by Dr. Robert Atkins.
  • Atkins diet- A low-carbohydrate diet popular for weight loss.
  • Australian paradox- The observation that, despite a high per capita consumption of sugar and a high prevalence of obesity, the incidence of heart disease in Australia has declined.
  • Australian paradox- The phenomenon of increasing rates of obesity in Australia despite a high intake of fruit and vegetables.
  • Awoulaba- A traditional West African dish made from fermented corn and cassava.
  • Bardet–Biedl syndrome- A genetic disorder that can cause obesity, among other symptoms.
  • Bariatric ambulance- A specially equipped ambulance designed to transport overweight individuals.
  • Bariatric ambulance- An ambulance equipped for the transportation of obese individuals.
  • Bariatrics- The branch of medicine concerned with the treatment of obesity.
  • Bariatrics- The medical specialty concerned with the treatment of obesity.
  • Barry Popkin- An American nutritionist known for his research on the impact of diet and physical activity on weight gain and obesity.
  • Bear (gay culture)- A subculture within the LGBTQ community characterized by a preference for larger, hairier men.
  • Big Beautiful Woman- A term used to describe plus-size women.
  • Big Sexy- A term used to describe overweight or obese individuals who are confident and comfortable with their bodies.
  • Binge eating disorder- An eating disorder characterized by episodes of compulsive overeating.
  • Blake F. Donaldson- A Scottish physician and author who wrote about the dangers of sugar consumption in the early 20th century.
  • Blood sugar regulation- The process by which the body maintains stable blood glucose levels.
  • Body Adiposity Index- A measure of body fat based on height and weight.
  • Body adiposity index- A measure of body fat calculated from height and waist circumference.
  • Body fat percentage- The proportion of total body weight that is composed of fat.
  • Carbohydrate-insulin model- A theory explaining the role of insulin in the regulation of body weight.
  • Chew and spit- A disordered eating behavior characterized by chewing food but not swallowing it.
  • Childhood obesity- A condition in which a child has excess body fat.
  • Cholyglycine hydrolase- An enzyme involved in the breakdown of bile acids.
  • Ciberobn- The Spanish Association for the Study of Obesity.
  • Cigarette smoking for weight loss- The use of smoking as a means of controlling weight, which is dangerous and not recommended.
  • Classification of obesity- The categorization of individuals based on their body mass index or other measures of body fat.
  • Comfort food- Food that provides emotional comfort and is often high in fat and sugar.
  • Criticism of fast food- Criticism of the nutritional value and health impacts of fast food.
  • Cross-validation- a method for evaluating a model's performance by splitting the data into multiple training and validation sets.
  • Death from obesity- The death of an individual as a result of complications from obesity.
  • Diet and obesity- The relationship between the types and amounts of food consumed and the development of obesity.
  • Diet-induced obesity model- An experimental model of obesity in which obesity is induced by a high-fat diet.
  • Dietary energy supply- The amount of energy provided by the diet.
  • Dieting- The practice of restricting food intake for the purpose of weight loss.
  • Eman Ahmed Abd El Aty- An Egyptian woman who was once considered the heaviest woman in the world.
  • Empty sella syndrome- A condition in which the pituitary gland is not visible on imaging due to being compressed.
  • Epidemiology of childhood obesity- The study of the patterns, causes, and consequences of childhood obesity.
  • Epidemiology of metabolic syndrome- The study of the patterns, causes, and consequences
  • Epidemiology of obesity- Study of the distribution and determinants of obesity in populations.
  • Exercise trends- Changes and patterns in physical activity levels over time.
  • FABP2- Fatty acid-binding protein 2, a protein involved in the regulation of energy metabolism.
  • Fat acceptance movement- A social and political movement advocating for the acceptance of all body types, regardless of size or weight.
  • Fat fetishism- Sexual attraction to people who are overweight or obese.
  • Food addiction- A pathological relationship with food characterized by compulsive overeating.
  • Gastric bypass surgery- A type of weight loss surgery that involves reducing the size of the stomach and rerouting the digestive system.

Rethinking Our Dietary Approach

Shifting focus from individual blame to understanding the complexities of obesity is crucial. A key factor is insulin resistance, impacting up to 71% of the population, with 35% experiencing metabolic syndrome.

Navigating Misinformation

The overwhelming presence of over 20,000 books and mixed messages on obesity medicine calls for guidance from experts like Dr Prab R. Tumpati, MD, who can provide clarity on the science and practice of this field.

The Downfall of the Food Guide Pyramid

The outdated and ineffective food guide pyramid, promoting a low-fat but high-glycemic diet, significantly contributed to increased insulin resistance and, consequently, weight gain.

Insulin resistance and weight gain

Insulin resistance is a physiological condition where the body's cells become less responsive to the hormone insulin. As insulin not only controls the blood sugar, it also controls the weight! Reducing the overall carbohydrate load and insulin levels is a key underlying concept in many low carbohydrate diets such as the ketogenic diet.

The Blame Game in Obesity

Understanding metabolic starvation

Weight gain isn't typically intentional. It often stems from the paradox of metabolic starvation in the obese, driven by insulin resistance and resulting in heightened insulin levels. This leads to persistent hunger, cravings, and further weight gain. Stop blaming the victim for obesity!

  • Gelesis100- A non-invasive, swallowed capsule for weight loss.
  • Genetics of obesity- Study of the role of genetic factors in the development of obesity.
  • Ghrelin- A hormone involved in the regulation of appetite and energy balance.
  • Gradient Descent- an optimization algorithm for finding the minimum of a cost function.
  • Hogging (sexual practice)- A fetish in which a person finds sexual pleasure in the size of their partner's stomach.
  • Hydrostatic weighing- A method for measuring body composition by weighing a person underwater.
  • Infectobesity- Obesity caused by an infection, such as a parasite.
  • Interpolation- the process of estimating a value between two known values in a sequence of values.
  • Intestinal bypass- A type of weight loss surgery that involves bypassing a portion of the small intestine.
  • KE diet- A very low-calorie diet that involves consuming only ketone esters.
  • Kelly D. Brownell- A psychologist and researcher known for his work on obesity and public health.
  • Khalid bin Mohsen Shaari- A Saudi Arabian man who, at his heaviest, weighed 1,345 pounds and was considered the heaviest person in the world.
  • Lac-Phe- A metabolic pathway that allows the body to use fatty acids for energy.
  • Leblouh- Forced feeding of young girls in Mauritania to reach an ideal weight and beauty standard.
  • Leptin- A hormone involved in the regulation of energy balance and appetite.
  • Lipase inhibitors- Drugs that block the action of the enzyme lipase, leading to decreased fat digestion and absorption.
  • List of heaviest people- A record of individuals who have been recorded as having the highest body weight.
  • List of sovereign states by body mass index- A list of countries ranked by the average body mass index of their citizens.
  • Low-quantity diet- A diet that involves reducing the overall quantity of food consumed.
  • Management of obesity- Strategies and treatments for preventing and treating obesity.
  • Manuel Uribe- A Mexican man who, at his heaviest, weighed 1,230 pounds and was considered the heaviest person in the world.
  • Medical conditions related to obesity- Health problems that are more common in individuals who are obese.
  • Metabolically healthy obesity- A condition in which an individual is obese but does not have other metabolic risk factors, such as high blood pressure or insulin resistance.
  • Muffin top- Excess fat that spills over the waistline of tight-fitting pants.
  • National Physical Activity Guidelines- Recommendations for the amount and type of physical activity necessary for good health.
  • Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase- An enzyme involved in the regulation of energy metabolism.
  • Normal weight obesity- A condition in which an individual has a normal body mass index but has a high amount of body fat and other metabolic risk factors.
  • Obesity and fertility- The impact of obesity on reproductive health and fertility.
  • Obesity and the environment- refers to the impact of environmental factors on the development and prevalence of obesity.
  • Obesity and the environment- refers to the impact that environmental factors have on the development and maintenance of obesity, including access to healthy food and physical activity opportunities.
  • Obesity and walking- refers to the relationship between physical activity, specifically walking, and obesity.
  • Obesity by country- refers to the prevalence of obesity in different countries around the world.
  • Obesity in pets- refers to the growing problem of pet obesity, which is caused by a combination of overfeeding and a lack of physical activity.
  • Obesity in the Pacific- refers to the high rates of obesity in Pacific island nations.
  • Obesity organizations- refers to non-profit organizations and advocacy groups dedicated to reducing the prevalence of obesity.
  • Obesity paradox- refers to the observation that, in some cases, obesity may not have a negative impact on health outcomes, particularly in the elderly.
  • Obesity researchers- refers to scientists and researchers studying obesity and its causes and treatments.
  • Obesity-associated morbidity- refers to the health problems associated with obesity, such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.
  • Obesity- A condition characterized by an excessive accumulation of body fat.
  • Obesogen- refers to an environmental toxin that can disrupt normal metabolism and contribute to obesity.
  • Obestatin- refers to a hormone that has been linked to regulating hunger and body weight.
  • Overfitting- a model that fits the training data too closely, but fails to generalize to unseen data.
  • Parental obesity- refers to the impact of obesity in parents on the health and weight of their children.
  • Pathophysiology of obesity- refers to the biological and physiological mechanisms underlying obesity.
  • Peptide YY- refers to a hormone that regulates hunger and is involved in the regulation of body weight.
  • Protein leverage hypothesis- refers to the idea that humans have a biological drive to consume protein, which can lead to overeating and obesity.
  • Psychological aspects of childhood obesity- refers to the impact of psychological factors, such as stress and emotional eating, on childhood obesity.
  • R/FatPeopleHate- refers to a controversial subreddit dedicated to mocking and criticizing people for being overweight.
  • Resistin- refers to a hormone that has been linked to insulin resistance and obesity.
  • Sagittal abdominal diameter- refers to a measurement of abdominal fat and is used as an indicator of obesity.
  • Samsø Højskole- refers to a Danish folk high school that has become a model for sustainable living and healthy lifestyles.
  • Schofield equation- refers to a mathematical formula used to estimate energy requirements and is used in the management of obesity.
  • Screen time- refers to the amount of time spent using electronic devices, such as smartphones and computers, and its impact on sedentary behavior and obesity.
  • Sedentary lifestyle- refers to a lifestyle characterized by little physical activity and high levels of sitting, which has been linked to obesity.
  • Set point theory- refers to the idea that the body has a "set point" for body weight and will defend this weight through changes in metabolism and hunger.
  • Sleeve gastrectomy- refers to a weight loss surgery in which a portion of the stomach is removed, reducing its capacity and the amount of food that can be consumed.
  • Slimming club- refers to a group dedicated to supporting individuals in their weight loss efforts.
  • Social determinants of obesity- refers to the social and environmental factors, such as poverty and lack of access to healthy food, that contribute to the development of obesity.
  • Social stigma of obesity- refers to the negative attitudes and discrimination faced by individuals with obesity.
  • StomaphyX- refers to a weight loss procedure that tightens the stomach to reduce its capacity and help individuals lose weight.
  • Sugary drink tax- refers to a tax imposed on sugar-sweetened beverages, aimed at reducing consumption and combating obesity.
  • The Biggest Loser- a reality TV show where overweight individuals compete to lose the most weight
  • The Biggest Loser Australia (Season 9)- the 9th season of the Australian version of The Biggest Loser TV show
  • The Weight of the Nation- a multi-part documentary series about the obesity epidemic in the US
  • Thrifty gene hypothesis- a theory that some individuals are genetically predisposed to store fat efficiently in response to food scarcity
  • Thrifty phenotype- the idea that early-life experiences, such as malnutrition or over-nutrition, can cause changes in gene expression that persist into adulthood, influencing the risk of obesity
  • Treatment of obesity- Treatment options for obesity include lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise, behavioral therapy, medications, and weight loss surgery.
  • Trim and Fit- a weight loss program or approach
  • Type 2 diabetes- A metabolic disorder in which the body is unable to produce sufficient insulin to regulate blood sugar levels. Obesity is a major risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes.
  • Very-low-calorie diet- a type of weight loss diet that involves consuming a very low number of calories on a daily basis
  • Waist-to-height ratio- a measurement used to assess body fat distribution, calculated by dividing the waist circumference by the height
  • Waistland- a term used to describe regions with high levels of obesity and related health problems
  • Weight Watchers (diet)- a popular commercial weight loss program and diet
  • Weight cycling- the repeated pattern of weight gain and loss
  • Weight loss effects of water- the potential benefits of drinking water for weight loss, such as increased satiety and metabolism
  • Weight loss surgery- A surgical procedure designed to help people with obesity lose weight by limiting the amount of food they can eat or changing how their digestive system processes food. Examples include gastric bypass surgery, sleeve gastrectomy, and gastric banding.
  • Wellspring Academies- a network of weight loss and wellness programs for children and teens
  • Werewolf diet- a type of intermittent fasting diet that involves restricting calories during certain days of the month
  • Works about obesity- books, articles, and other forms of media that focus on the topic of obesity
  • World Fit- a global campaign aimed at promoting healthy lifestyle choices and combating obesity
  • World Obesity Day- A day dedicated to raising awareness about the global obesity epidemic and its impact on health and well-being. Observed on the 11th of October each year.
  • World Obesity Day- an annual event held on October 11th to raise awareness about the global obesity epidemic and its associated health problems.
  • Yoyo dieting- The pattern of repeatedly losing and gaining weight through repeated cycles of dieting. This is not an effective way to lose weight in the long-term and can be harmful to health.

Glossaries, dictionaries, and lists in WikiMD[edit source]

Popular Glossaries Dictionaries Lists & Glossaries Topics
Medical dictionary
Medical dictionary

Additional Resources:[edit source]


Wiki.png

Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index‏‎ - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes

Search WikiMD


Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) available.
Advertise on WikiMD

WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.

Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.


Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD