5 Facts about obesity everyone should know
Obesity isn’t a choice—it’s shaped by powerful, often invisible forces. Ending stigma begins with understanding obesity’s complexity and challenging our own personal biases and beliefs.
Understanding these five facts help move the conversation away from judgment and toward compassion, paving the way for better care and respect.
1
Obesity is a chronic disease
Obesity is not a personal failure or a lack of willpower—obesity is a chronic disease. Recognizing it as a chronic disease helps remove stigma and shifts the focus to compassionate, evidence-informed healthcare.
Chronic diseases are conditions that last a lifetime, require ongoing care, and stem from complex interactions between biological, genetic, and environmental factors. Obesity fits this definition because it involves disruptions in the body’s regulation of energy, appetite, and fat storage.
As with any other complex, chronic disease, obesity should be diagnosed by a qualified healthcare provider.
By properly defining obesity and recognizing its complexity, we can move away from oversimplified narratives that blame individuals. Instead, we can focus on evidence-based solutions that address the root causes of obesity and improve the lives of those living with this disease.
2
Obesity is driven by biology, not choice
Obesity is shaped by powerful biological factors beyond personal control, with 70% of risk determined by genetics. In people living with obesity, the brain’s systems for controlling hunger and energy are disrupted, creating biological barriers to weight loss that many people struggle to overcome.
Obesity is characterized by abnormal or excessive body fat (also called adiposity) that impairs health. Obesity isn’t defined by a single body type—people of all shapes and sizes, including smaller bodies, can live with obesity.
Focusing on measures of health rather than appearance helps provide care that respects each individual’s unique journey. Blaming individuals for their weight overlooks the powerful biological and social forces at play. A better understanding of obesity opens the door to better care and lasting solutions.
3
Obesity can impact health early
Obesity’s effects on health can start earlier than most people realize, often beginning in childhood. As young bodies grow, carrying excess weight can put added strain on their physical health, increasing risks for conditions like type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure later in life.
Beyond the physical, the mental and emotional toll of living with obesity—such as stigma and low self-esteem—can leave lasting impacts.
Early prevention and management are critical to reducing these risks and fostering healthy futures.
4
Obesity is treatable
Effective obesity care is individualized and adaptable, addressing each person’s unique body, biology, and life circumstances. A one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work.
Science and treatments for obesity are rapidly evolving, offering new and more effective ways to manage this complex condition, but success is not just measured by weight loss. Improving overall health and quality of life defines effective treatment.
Evidence-based options like behavioral therapy, lifestyle adjustments, prescription medications, and surgery can all play a role in a comprehensive, personalized approach to care.
5
Weight bias, stigma, and discrimination harm everyone
Weight bias isn’t just personal—it creates structural barriers to care that worsen health outcomes and mental well-being, contributing to depression, anxiety, and social isolation.
Studies show that fear of judgment causes many people living with obesity to avoid seeking medical help, delaying diagnosis and treatment. The societal cost is steep, contributing to higher healthcare costs and lost productivity.
Respecting people of all sizes is the first step to eliminating bias. When we eliminate weight bias and create supportive environments, we can improve health outcomes and reduce the societal impact of stigma.
