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Obesity refers to a medical condition in which an excessive amount of body fat is accumulated in the body. It is a serious medical condition as it may lead to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, stroke, arthritis and various other medical problems. To calculate the level of obesity in a person, experts have devised a formula called the body mass index (BMI); the BMI compares weight and height. BMI equals weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared (BMI = kg/m2). Based on the BMI calculation, medical experts categorize people as underweight, overweight or obese. Given below are BMI categories for adults:

• BMI below 18.5 = underweight
• BMI between 18.5 to 24.9 = normal weight
• BMI between 25 to 29.9 = overweight
• BMI between 30 to 39.9 = obese
• BMI greater than 40 = extremely obese

Though BMI is an important indicator of obesity, it has certain limitations. For instance, as the BMI is entirely dependant on the net weight and height of the individual it does not take into account the distribution of muscle and bone mass. In addition, the BMI also does not differentiate between body fat and muscle mass. This often results in misleading results. With the BMI indicator there is always the potential risk of overestimating ‘fatness’ in individuals with high muscle mass, such as body-builders. Besides, the BMI underestimates the fat deposits in those with less lean body mass, such as the elderly. For this reason, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has indicated that in Caucasians waist measurements of 94cm or more in men and 80cm or more in women may result in adverse effects on health, with increased risks at 102cm or more in men and 88cm in women.