What Body Mass Index (BMI) defines obesity?

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a widely used measure that helps to categorize individuals based on their weight relative to their height. In terms of obesity classification, a BMI of 30 or greater is considered to indicate obesity. This standard is supported by various health organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO), which has established these thresholds to assess health risks associated with excess body weight.

A BMI of 25 is categorized as overweight, and while individuals with a BMI of 25 to 29.9 are at an increased risk of developing health issues, they do not fit the obesity classification. Similarly, while higher BMIs of 35 and 40 indicate severe or morbid obesity—pointing to more serious health risks—30 remains the foundational threshold for defining the onset of obesity. Therefore, a BMI of 30 is the correct figure that identifies an individual as obese, reflecting the increased likelihood of obesity-related health conditions.