Obesity is recognised as a disease that requires treatment by World Obesity, the American Medical Association, Obesity Canada and the European Association for the Study of Obesity.
Overweight and obesity are defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk to health. A body mass index (BMI) over 25 kg/m 2 is considered overweight, and over 30 kg/ m2 is diagnostic of obesity. The prevalence of overweight and obesity is increasing globally with an estimated 1.9 billion adults considered overweight and 650 million people living with obesity. Ireland has one of the highest levels of obesity in Europe, with 60% of adults, and more than 20% of children and young people living with overweight and obesity.
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