The BMI does not distinguish between excess body fat, bone mass or musculature. It also does not interpret the distribution of fat, which is a predictor of health.
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Articles on Excess weight
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Deep psychological factors play a part in obesity, including childhood trauma.
While excess weight arises from a complex interplay of genes, environment, diet and activity, new research finds Americans hold parents responsible for excess weight in their kids.
With FatBlaster Max recently banned from sale, it’s a good time to look at what diet pills actually contain, and whether they work.
Is there such a thing as ‘fat but fit’? Excess weight is one risk factor for ill health, but it doesn’t perfectly predict it.
Your body might need a nudge to return to its pre-lockdown weight. And it’s probably better to act now than wait.
Unhealthy foods are readily available and heavily marketed to us, especially at supermarkets.
No matter how much you weigh, there are many benefits to starting exercise, from a reduced risk of heart disease to better mental health.
Diets like mono, charcoal detox, Noom, time-restricted feeding and Fast800 are growing in popularity. Here’s what the evidence says about them.
Nike has recently displayed a plus-sized mannequin in its London store, triggering responses ranging from outrage to celebration. But there’s no denying the health risks of obesity.
All five experts said BMI is not ideal for determining the health of your weight.
Gestational diabetes should be seen as an opportunity to identify families at higher risk of metabolic problems and take action.
Excess weight affects fertility in men and women - the good news is weight loss can reverse the negative effects.
Quitting sugar is unlikely to improve your health any more than cutting down on ultra-processed foods, eating more vegetables and cooking food from scratch.
We found that over 12 years, women who had an unhealthy weight and had yo-yoed didn’t gain more weight than women who had never yo-yoed.
Most people assume the only reason to eat healthy foods is to stay slim. But being slim doesn’t mean you’re healthy, and doesn’t mean it’s OK to eat junk.
It is easy to fall into the trap of giving people you love lots of ultra-processed, high kilojoule, nutrient-poor foods because they like them. But immediate pleasure comes at a cost.
Almost three in four Australian children consume too much sugar, 91.5% of young people don’t get enough exercise, and we’re among the most obese people in the world.
You can’t change your genes but there are some food and lifestyle factors you can target to lower your risk.
Top contributors
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Laureate Professor in Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Newcastle
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Research Fellow in Exercise Metabolism and Nutrition, Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research, Australian Catholic University
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Charles Perkins Centre Research Program Leader, University of Sydney
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Associate Professor, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne
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Dietitian/Clinical Trial Manager, Western Sydney University
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Research fellow, Monash University
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Associate Professor, Deakin University
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Professor of Human Movement Studies, The University of Queensland
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Postdoctoral research fellow, Deakin University
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Endocrinologist, Western Sydney University
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Senior Research Associate, Centre for Lifestyle Medicine and Behaviour, Loughborough University
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Professional Research Fellow, Victoria University
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Medical Student, Monash University
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Professor, Health Policy, Victoria University
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NHMRC Senior Research Fellow in the School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia
