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Q These days we hear so much about obesity and the dangers associated with carrying so many extra pounds. I consider myself to be overweight, and know I should be doing something about it. But I'd like to know if there is a certain point when a person is considered to be obese? L.W., Washington, D.C.

A In a society where food portions are larger and more and more people are living sedentary lifestyles, the rate of overweight Americans continues to escalate--to the point where some medical officials describe the situation as "frightening." Researchers say nearly two-thirds of adults are currently overweight and more than 30 percent are obese.

To determine if you're obese, you'll need to know your body mass index (BMI), a measure of body fat based on height and weight that applies to both adult men and women. To calculate the BMI, the weight (in kilograms) is divided by height (in meters squared). If you only know your weight in pounds and height in feet and inches, you can use Google's BMI calculator on the Internet.

Doctors say a normal BMI is 18.5 to 24.9; a reading of 25 to 29.9 means you are overweight; and you are considered obese if your BMI is 30 or greater.

# posted by Medical Information : 2:16 AM