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Obesity Is A Disease - Home
Complete this short questionnaire to prepare for a conversation 
with your doctor about obesity management.
Woman with obesity with resistance bands holding her in place attached to the words "The Body Can Resist Weight Loss"

It’s time for a real change in weight loss

We know how tough it can be to lose weight and keep weight off. Even with healthy eating and exercise, it can feel like you’re stuck in a cycle of losing and regaining weight. 1,2 It makes you wonder if something more is at play. Thankfully, our understanding of obesity is evolving, which is changing 
how we talk about and treat it.

What can make weight loss so difficult?

Woman with obesity

Losing weight is hard, but keeping it off can be even harder.1 While dieting and doing more physical activity might help you to lose weight at first, many with obesity find it harder and harder to maintain that weight loss or to lose more weight over time.2 It can feel like you're doing everything right, but something's still holding you back.

It's important to know that it's not your fault. It might be your body's biological resistance 
to weight loss.3

Research suggests that when you stay at a certain weight for a long time, your body can resist changes. 3-5 When you lose weight, your body may burn fewer calories,4 making your efforts less efficient over time. Additionally, your body may have a hormone response that leaves you feeling less full and hungry more often.3

“Eating right and staying active helps, but maintaining progress is tough. Diets work at first, but then my body adapts and I’m back to square one”

— Shahad.*

*Quotes adapted from obesity research interviews. Names are pseudonyms for privacy

Are you living with obesity?

BMI and obesity

Obesity is a chronic disease that may need ongoing management6; it goes beyond numbers and measurements. Your doctor can help you understand the whole picture. While body mass index (BMI) is one way to assess it, your doctor may also consider factors like waist-to-height ratio and how excess weight affects your health, ability to function, and well-being.7-9

BMI is calculated by comparing your weight to your height and a high BMI can be an initial indicator of whether you should speak with your doctor.

Enter your height and weight to calculate your BMI and check the chart below

Keep in mind that BMI ranges can vary by ethnicity, and it’s just one indicator—talking to your doctor is always the best option.8

BMI CALCULATOR*

*The BMI calculator is not a diagnostic tool.7


BMI ranges7

< 18.5

If your BMI is less than 18.5kg/m2, it falls within the underweight range.

18.5 - 24.9

If your BMI is 18.5 to 24.9kg/m2, it falls within the healthy weight range.

25.0 - 29.9

If your BMI is 25.0 to 29.9kg/m2, it falls within the overweight range.

≥ 30.0

If your BMI is 30.0kg/m2 or higher, it falls within the obesity range.

"I thought managing my weight was my responsibility, but it's hard to stay healthy. I never realized obesity is a disease—maybe there's more to it than I thought."

— Jamir*

*Quotes adapted from obesity research interviews. Names are pseudonyms for privacy.

Weight management approaches

Biological resistance to weight loss means your body is fighting back when you try to lose weight.2, 5, 6
Obesity is a disease driven by a complex mix of factors, making it harder to achieve and maintain your health goals.6 
There are various weight management options to consider, from lifestyle changes, like diet and exercise, to obesity management medications or surgery.6, 10 Your doctor can help you choose the right approach for you.

Lifestyle changes

As we all know, a balanced diet and staying active are a good place to start when trying to maintain 
a healthy weight. While there’s no one-size-fits-all diet, eating nutrient-rich foods and managing calorie intake is essential.4, 11 Calorie-restrictive diets can be tough,1 but support from a dietitian or nutritionist can help.6, 12 Regular physical activity boosts metabolism and contributes to weight maintenance.4, 13 Simple changes like walking more or taking the stairs can make a difference,9 and physical activity also supports emotional well-being.13, 14

Obesity management medications15

Obesity management medications (OMM), which are typically prescribed by doctors, can help people with obesity or overweight-related health issues manage their weight. They reduce appetite, making dietary changes easier, but can have side effects and aren’t for everyone. When combined with lifestyle changes like healthier eating and exercise, OMM can support weight loss as part of a personalized treatment plan.

Surgery

Bariatric surgery, like gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy, is available to people with obesity and overweight-related health issues within specific BMI ranges.16, 17 These procedures limit food intake or reduce hunger 11, 13 but require lifelong dietary changes, nutrient supplements, and medical follow-up.16-18 While usually effective, they can have side effects
and the long-term commitment isn’t for everyone.16

Man with obesity

Have a weight loss conversation with your doctor

Complete this short questionnaire to prepare for a conversation with your doctor about obesity management.

  1. Apovian CM, Aronne LJ, Bessesen DH, et al; Endocrine Society. Pharmacological management of obesity: an Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2015;100(2):342-362. doi:10.1210/jc.2014-3415

  2. Hall KD, Kahan S. Maintenance of lost weight and long-term management of obesity. Med Clin North Am. 2018;102(1):183-197. doi:10.1016/j.mcna.2017.08.012

  3. MacLean PS, Bergouignan A, Cornier MA, Jackman MR. Biology’s response to dieting: the impetus for weight regain. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2011;301(3):R581-R600. doi:10.1152/ajpregu.00755.2010

  4. Melby CL, Paris HL, Foright RM, Peth J. Attenuating the biologic drive for weight regain following weight loss: must what goes down always go back up? Nutrients. 2017;9(5):468. doi:10.3390/nu9050468

  5. Ochner CN, Barrios DM, Lee CD, Pi-Sunyer FX. Biological mechanisms that promote weight regain following weight loss in obese humans. Physiol Behav. 2013;120:106- 113. doi:10.1016/j.physbeh.2013.07.009

  6. Greenway FL. Physiological adaptations to weight loss and factors favouring weight regain. Int J Obes (Lond). 2015;39(8):1188-1196. doi:10.1038/ijo.2015.59

  7. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Overweight and obesity: symptoms and diagnosis. Updated March 24, 2022. Accessed May 15, 2025. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/overweight-and-obesity/symptoms

  8. Busetto L, Dicker D, Frühbeck G, et al. A new framework for the diagnosis, staging and management of obesity in adults. Nat Med. Published online July 5, 2024. doi:10.1038/s41591-024-03095-3

  9. Stephenson J, Smith CM, Kearns B, Haywood A, Bissell P. The association between obesity and quality of life: a retrospective analysis of a large-scale population-based cohort study. BMC Public Health. 2021;21(1):1990. doi:10.1186/s12889-021-12009-8

  10. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Overweight and obesity: treatment. Updated March 24, 2022. Accessed May 15, 2025. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/overweight-and-obesity/treatment

  11. Cena H, Calder PC. Defining a healthy diet: evidence for the role of contemporary dietary patterns in health and disease. Nutrients. 2020;12(2):334. doi:10.3390/nu12020334

  12. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Eating & physical activity to lose or maintain weight. Reviewed May 2023. Accessed May 15, 2025. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/weight-management/adult-overweight-obesity/eating-physical-activity

  13. American Diabetes Association. Health and wellness: anaerobic exercise and diabetes. American Diabetes Association. Accessed May 15, 2025. https://diabetes.org/health-wellness/fitness/anaerobic-exercise-diabetes

  14. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Exercise and fitness: guide to physical activity. Accessed May 15, 2025. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/lose_wt/phy_act.html

  15. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Prescription medications to treat overweight & obesity. Reviewed June 2024. Accessed May 15, 2025. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/weight-management/prescription-medications-treat-overweight-obesity

  16. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Types of weight-loss surgery. Reviewed September 2020. Accessed May 15, 2025. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/weight-management/bariatric-surgery/types

  17. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Potential candidates for weight-loss surgery. Reviewed September 2020. Accessed May 15, 2025. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/weight-management/bariatric-surgery/potential-candidates

  18. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Weight-loss (metabolic & bariatric) surgery. Reviewed July 2016. Accessed May 15, 2025. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/weight-management/bariatric-surgery

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