BMI and Obesity - Infographic

Obesity and overweight are defined as abnormal or excessive accumulation of fat that may harm health. In 2014, 39% adults aged 18 years and above were overweight and 13% of the adults were obese. 42 million children under 5 years of age were obese or overweight in 2013. Worldwide, obesity and overweight are linked to more deaths than underweight. Overweight and obesity are largely preventable; people can make healthier food choices like choosing fruits and vegetables, legumes, nuts and engage in a regular physical activity.

BMI or body mass index is an estimation of the total amount of body fat. A high BMI value i.e. Greater than 30 can increase the risk of noncommunicable diseases such as cardiovascular diseases (mainly heart disease and stroke), which were the leading cause of death in 2012, type 2 diabetes, osteoarthritis, cancers of the breast, endometrial and colon.