{"id":43745,"date":"2022-06-10T03:27:23","date_gmt":"2022-06-10T03:27:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/?p=43745"},"modified":"2026-03-06T11:14:37","modified_gmt":"2026-03-06T11:14:37","slug":"obesity-vs-morbid-obesity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/obesity-vs-morbid-obesity\/","title":{"rendered":"Obesity Vs Morbid Obesity: What Is The Difference?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_75 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/obesity-vs-morbid-obesity\/#Obesity_Vs_Morbid_Obesity_Definition_Difference\" >Obesity Vs Morbid Obesity: Definition Difference<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/obesity-vs-morbid-obesity\/#What_Are_The_Different_Levels_Of_Obesity\" >What Are The Different Levels Of Obesity?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/obesity-vs-morbid-obesity\/#What_Are_The_6_Types_Of_Obesity\" >What Are The 6 Types Of Obesity?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/obesity-vs-morbid-obesity\/#FAQs\" >FAQs<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/obesity-vs-morbid-obesity\/#Severe_Obesity_Vs_Morbid_Obesity_Is_There_A_Difference\" >Severe Obesity Vs Morbid Obesity: Is There A Difference?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/obesity-vs-morbid-obesity\/#What_Does_It_Mean_To_Be_Super_Morbidly_Obese\" >What Does It Mean To Be Super Morbidly Obese?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/obesity-vs-morbid-obesity\/#The_Bottom_Line\" >The Bottom Line<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p data-start=\"516\" data-end=\"954\">For many of us, \u201coverweight\u201d is a familiar term, and we may have a general idea of what \u201cobesity\u201d means. But what about \u201cmorbid obesity\u201d? Could you automatically tell the difference between the two? For most of us, the answer would be \u201cno.\u201d In today\u2019s article, we\u2019re going to look at how these terms are commonly defined, what people usually mean when they say \u201cmorbid obesity,\u201d whether the term \u201cmorbid\u201d is considered outdated, and more.<\/p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2273&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Obesity_Vs_Morbid_Obesity\" target=\"_blank\"><video autoplay=\"autoplay\" loop=\"loop\" muted=\"muted\" playsinline=\"playsinline\" width=\"777\"><source src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/ezgif.com-gif-to-mp4-2.mp4\" type=\"video\/mp4\" \/><\/video><\/a>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Obesity_Vs_Morbid_Obesity_Definition_Difference\"><\/span><b>Obesity Vs Morbid Obesity: Definition Difference<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is obesity? When most people are faced with this question, their automatic answer would be that obesity is a state of being heavy \u2014 heavier than just being <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/grocery-list-for-weight-loss\/\">overweight<\/a>. While this is partly true, it is also only part of the picture, and here is why.<\/span><\/p>\n<p data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\">Obesity is more than what we see. In many medical definitions, obesity describes having a higher amount of body fat than is generally considered healthy for a person\u2019s height, and it may be associated with a higher likelihood of certain long-term health issues.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1397\" data-end=\"1615\">What is considered morbid obesity? For most people, this term may sound like it refers to something extreme \u2014 but the meaning of \u201cmorbid\u201d here relates to illness, not to a value judgment about someone\u2019s appearance.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In medical contexts, \u201cmorbid obesity\u201d has been used to describe more severe obesity, often discussed alongside other health risks. Because the word \u201cmorbid\u201d can sound stigmatizing, many sources now use the term \u201cClass III obesity\u201d instead (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/my.clevelandclinic.org\/health\/diseases\/21989-class-iii-obesity-formerly-known-as-morbid-obesity\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Read More:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/best-way-to-take-garcinia-cambogia-for-weight-loss\/\">The Best Way To Take Garcinia Cambogia For Weight Loss<\/a><\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2273&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Obesity_Vs_Morbid_Obesity\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-43402 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/11-1024x576.png\" alt=\"Fitness App\" width=\"770\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/11.png 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/11-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/11.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/11-1636x920.png 1636w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/11.png 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Are_The_Different_Levels_Of_Obesity\"><\/span><b>What Are The Different Levels Of Obesity?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"791\" data-end=\"932\">As mentioned above, \u201cmorbid obesity\u201d is now often referred to as Class III obesity, but what are the other classes and what do they mean?<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Obesity classifications are commonly described using BMI (body mass index) \u2014 a screening tool that estimates weight status using height and weight. BMI is calculated by dividing your weight in kilograms by the square of your height in meters. Standard BMI categories are often listed as follows (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/my.clevelandclinic.org\/health\/diseases\/21989-class-iii-obesity-formerly-known-as-morbid-obesity\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/obesity\/basics\/adult-defining.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Underweight &#8211; Less than 18.5<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Optimum range &#8211; 18.5 to 24.9<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Overweight &#8211; 25 to 29.9<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"1349\" data-end=\"1465\">A BMI of 30 or higher is commonly grouped under the obesity category, which is often divided into three classes:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li data-start=\"418\" data-end=\"452\">Class I obesity \u2014 30 to 34.9<\/li>\n<li>Class II obesity \u2014 35 to 39.9<\/li>\n<li>Class III obesity \u2014 40 or higher<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p data-start=\"844\" data-end=\"1150\">The differences between obesity and more severe obesity don\u2019t stop here, however. As seen above, obesity is often described as a BMI of 30 or higher, but when people refer to Class III obesity (previously called \u201cmorbid obesity\u201d), BMI is sometimes discussed alongside other clinical considerations.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1152\" data-end=\"1229\">Other factors that may be considered by healthcare professionals can include:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li data-start=\"1233\" data-end=\"1315\">Being significantly above the weight range that may be expected for your height<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Being in a higher BMI class and also having other health concerns that can be associated with obesity.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><strong>Getting back into a fitness routine can feel more manageable with the right support! <a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2273&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Obesity_Vs_Morbid_Obesity\">Get started with BetterMe<\/a>\u00a0and build habits that fit your lifestyle!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2273&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Obesity_Vs_Morbid_Obesity\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-43396 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/25-1024x576.png\" alt=\"obesity vs morbid obesity\" width=\"770\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/25.png 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/25-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/25.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/25.png 1344w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Are_The_6_Types_Of_Obesity\"><\/span><b>What Are The 6 Types Of Obesity?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As seen above, obesity is often described using <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/yohimbine-weight-loss\/\">BMI-based classes<\/a><\/span>. However, some research has suggested that participants can be grouped into different clusters based on lifestyle and wellbeing-related factors<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. The idea of \u201csix types\u201d comes from a research study published in 2015.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the study, researchers used questionnaires with a large group of participants, and a subset met the BMI criterion commonly used to define obesity (BMI of 30 or higher). The questionnaires covered a range of topics, from basic background information and<a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/vibration-machine-for-weight-loss\/\">\u00a0quality of life<\/a>\u00a0to lifestyle factors such as physical activity, alcohol use, and smoking.<\/span><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"712\" data-end=\"800\">Once researchers analyzed the data they collected, they suggested six clusters, such as:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Heavy-drinking men<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Younger women reporting generally good health<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Affluent older adults reporting generally good health<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Older adults reporting more physical health challenges but higher life satisfaction<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Middle-aged adults reporting lower wellbeing and higher stress levels<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Those reporting the lowest overall health status<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From these findings, the researchers suggested that when it comes to body weight and <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/aloe-vera-smoothie-for-weight-loss\/\">weight-management<\/a>\u00a0goals, BMI isn\u2019t the only factor that can matter. Other lifestyle and wellbeing factors can also play a role in how people end up in a certain BMI category. Looking at the bigger picture may help people choose an approach that feels more realistic and sustainable for them, rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all plan (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/jpubhealth\/article\/38\/2\/258\/1753456?login=false\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">6<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Read More:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/healthy-cauliflower-recipes-for-weight-loss\/\">Healthy Cauliflower Recipes For Weight Loss<\/a><\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2273&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Obesity_Vs_Morbid_Obesity\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-42202 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Frame-3542-1024x576.png\" alt=\"obesity vs morbid obesity\" width=\"770\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Frame-3542.png 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Frame-3542-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Frame-3542.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Frame-3542-1636x920.png 1636w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Frame-3542.png 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQs\"><\/span><b>FAQs<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Severe_Obesity_Vs_Morbid_Obesity_Is_There_A_Difference\"><\/span><b>Severe Obesity Vs Morbid Obesity: Is There A Difference?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>In many contexts, \u201csevere <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/best-juices-for-weight-loss\/\">obesity<\/a>\u201d is used as a more neutral way to refer to what used to be called \u201cmorbid obesity.\u201d Today, many sources prefer terms like \u201cClass III obesity.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Does_It_Mean_To_Be_Super_Morbidly_Obese\"><\/span><b>What Does It Mean To Be Super Morbidly Obese?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>While terms like \u201csuper morbid <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/vitamin-b12-and-weight-loss\/\">obesity<\/a>\u201d aren\u2019t part of the standard BMI class system, some sources may use them informally to describe very high BMI ranges. For example, BMI values around 50+ are sometimes described this way in medical writing. Some sources also mention even higher ranges, but the terminology isn\u2019t standardized and can vary (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.medscape.com\/viewarticle\/703502_2\">5<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5995720\/\">1<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p><strong>f you want to feel stronger through your core, build more definition in your arms, or work toward a leaner look around your midsection \u2014 our fitness app offers workouts and routines you can tailor to your goals! Get started with BetterMe and<a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2273&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Obesity_Vs_Morbid_Obesity\"> stay consistent with a plan that fits your lifestyle<\/a>!<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Bottom_Line\"><\/span><b>The Bottom Line<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>When it comes to describing Class I vs Class III obesity, BMI is often one of the main reference\u00a0points. At the same time, overall health risk can be influenced by many other factors, including <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/digestive-enzymes-and-weight-loss\/\">weight history<\/a>, lifestyle, and individual circumstances. If a healthcare professional has discussed Class III obesity with you, consider asking them what movement, nutrition, or lifestyle steps make sense for your situation and how to approach changes in a manageable, realistic way.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2273&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Obesity_Vs_Morbid_Obesity\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Gif_Blue-1.gif\" alt=\"BetterMe\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1080\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>For many of us, \u201coverweight\u201d is a familiar term, and we may have a general idea of what \u201cobesity\u201d means. But what about \u201cmorbid obesity\u201d? Could you automatically tell the difference between the two? For most of us, the answer would be \u201cno.\u201d In today\u2019s article, we\u2019re going to look at how these terms are [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29,"featured_media":43746,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[75],"tags":[],"coauthors":[109],"class_list":["post-43745","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-weight-loss"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v20.2.1 (Yoast SEO v25.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Obesity Vs Morbid Obesity: What Is The Difference? - BetterMe<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Are you curious on the distinction between \u2605 OBESITY VS MORBID OBESITY? \u27a4 Check out this article to learn how these two differ and why.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/obesity-vs-morbid-obesity\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Obesity Vs Morbid Obesity: What Is The Difference?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Are you curious on the distinction between \u2605 OBESITY VS MORBID OBESITY? \u27a4 Check out this article to learn how these two differ and why.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/obesity-vs-morbid-obesity\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"BetterMe Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/betterme.health.coaching\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-03-06T11:14:37+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/shutterstock_720600880.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"667\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"\u0421. Kamau\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@betterme\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@betterme\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"\u0421. Kamau\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/obesity-vs-morbid-obesity\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/obesity-vs-morbid-obesity\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"\u0421. Kamau\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#\/schema\/person\/f9c1a6effa8c3e87adaf60e1ab104496\"},\"headline\":\"Obesity Vs Morbid Obesity: What Is The Difference?\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-03-06T11:14:37+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/obesity-vs-morbid-obesity\/\"},\"wordCount\":1006,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/obesity-vs-morbid-obesity\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/shutterstock_720600880.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Weight Loss\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"articleBody\":\"<p data-start=\\\"516\\\" data-end=\\\"954\\\">For many of us, \u201coverweight\u201d is a familiar term, and we may have a general idea of what \u201cobesity\u201d means. But what about \u201cmorbid obesity\u201d? Could you automatically tell the difference between the two? For most of us, the answer would be \u201cno.\u201d In today\u2019s article, we\u2019re going to look at how these terms are commonly defined, what people usually mean when they say \u201cmorbid obesity,\u201d whether the term \u201cmorbid\u201d is considered outdated, and more.<\/p>\\r\\n\\r\\n<h2 style=\\\"text-align: center;\\\"><b>Obesity Vs Morbid Obesity: Definition Difference<\/b><\/h2>\\r\\n<span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">What is obesity? When most people are faced with this question, their automatic answer would be that obesity is a state of being heavy \u2014 heavier than just being <a href=\\\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/grocery-list-for-weight-loss\/\\\">overweight<\/a>. While this is partly true, it is also only part of the picture, and here is why.<\/span>\\r\\n<p data-pm-slice=\\\"1 1 []\\\">Obesity is more than what we see. In many medical definitions, obesity describes having a higher amount of body fat than is generally considered healthy for a person\u2019s height, and it may be associated with a higher likelihood of certain long-term health issues.<\/p>\\r\\n<p data-start=\\\"1397\\\" data-end=\\\"1615\\\">What is considered morbid obesity? For most people, this term may sound like it refers to something extreme \u2014 but the meaning of \u201cmorbid\u201d here relates to illness, not to a value judgment about someone\u2019s appearance.<\/p>\\r\\n<span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">In medical contexts, \u201cmorbid obesity\u201d has been used to describe more severe obesity, often discussed alongside other health risks. 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Kamau","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@betterme","twitter_site":"@betterme","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"\u0421. Kamau","Est. reading time":"6 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/obesity-vs-morbid-obesity\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/obesity-vs-morbid-obesity\/"},"author":{"name":"\u0421. Kamau","@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#\/schema\/person\/f9c1a6effa8c3e87adaf60e1ab104496"},"headline":"Obesity Vs Morbid Obesity: What Is The Difference?","dateModified":"2026-03-06T11:14:37+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/obesity-vs-morbid-obesity\/"},"wordCount":1006,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/obesity-vs-morbid-obesity\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/shutterstock_720600880.jpg","articleSection":["Weight Loss"],"inLanguage":"en-US","articleBody":"<p data-start=\"516\" data-end=\"954\">For many of us, \u201coverweight\u201d is a familiar term, and we may have a general idea of what \u201cobesity\u201d means. But what about \u201cmorbid obesity\u201d? Could you automatically tell the difference between the two? For most of us, the answer would be \u201cno.\u201d In today\u2019s article, we\u2019re going to look at how these terms are commonly defined, what people usually mean when they say \u201cmorbid obesity,\u201d whether the term \u201cmorbid\u201d is considered outdated, and more.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><b>Obesity Vs Morbid Obesity: Definition Difference<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is obesity? When most people are faced with this question, their automatic answer would be that obesity is a state of being heavy \u2014 heavier than just being <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/grocery-list-for-weight-loss\/\">overweight<\/a>. While this is partly true, it is also only part of the picture, and here is why.<\/span>\r\n<p data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\">Obesity is more than what we see. In many medical definitions, obesity describes having a higher amount of body fat than is generally considered healthy for a person\u2019s height, and it may be associated with a higher likelihood of certain long-term health issues.<\/p>\r\n<p data-start=\"1397\" data-end=\"1615\">What is considered morbid obesity? For most people, this term may sound like it refers to something extreme \u2014 but the meaning of \u201cmorbid\u201d here relates to illness, not to a value judgment about someone\u2019s appearance.<\/p>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In medical contexts, \u201cmorbid obesity\u201d has been used to describe more severe obesity, often discussed alongside other health risks. 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