Women are specially affected. Over one-third of women between the ages of 20 and 74 are obese,that the majority of them being African American or Mexican American.

With more and more pre packaged food and lessand less activity, the number of obese people in America has steadily increased since the 1960's.

Many people think obesity means that a person is overweight, but that's not exactly true. An Overweight person has a surplus amount of Weight, that includes muscle, bone, fat, and Water.

An obese person has a surplus of "body fat".

Most health professionals concur that a man is Obese if he has over 25 percent body fat, and a women is obese if she has over 30 percent.

Women physiologically have more body fat than men, so that why there's a difference in the percentage. It is difficult to determine the exact percentage of body fat a person has, but estimatescan be made in a number of different ways.

First, using a tweezers-like-tool called a calliper, You can measure the thickness of skin folds On different points of your body and compare The results with standardized numbers.

You can also use a small device that send a harmless electrical current through your body and measures your body fat percentage.

The most commonly used method to determine ifA person is obese is to look at his/her Body Mass Index (BMI).

A person with a BMI over 30 is considered to be Obese, and a BMI over 40 is considered to be severely obese.

It's important to remember thought that BMI could Be misleading in pregnant or lactating women and in muscular individuals.

With obesity, comes the increased risk of diseases Such as high blood pressure, Type II Diabetes, Heart disease, and breast, colon and prostate cancer.

In addition, obesity has been linked to mental health Conditions such as depression or feeling of shame And low self-esteem.

Health experts say's that even losing 10 to 15 percent Of your body weight can dramatically decrease the Risk of developing these serious conditions. In addition, Many obese people are discriminated against and targets of insults and other verbal abuse.

A number of factors, such as poor diet, lack of Physical activity, genetics, and certain medical disorders Cause obesity, but it can be conquered.