Is Obesity a Disease?

Obesity is a well-known risk factor for many chronic diseases as well as early mortality. However, since body mass index does not distinguish between fat mass, fat-free mass, and lean mass, individuals with similar body mass indices may have very different body composition and physiological function. Further, how a person became obese appears as important, if not more important, than their actual amount of fat. Genomics, level of toxicant load, amount of exercise, and ratio of omega 6/3 fatty acid ratio are greater determinants of disease risk than adipose mass.