Where some may see character flaw, we see a chronic disease influenced by genetic, behavioral, and environmental factors.1 Obesity may have a significant and persistent impact on overall health, increasing the risk for conditions like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and more.2 Knowing your body mass index (BMI) is just one step in your weight-management journey, as it will be one screening tool your healthcare professional uses to consider whether you are living with obesity and to help you explore weight-management options.3
We believe in making long-term changes, which is why we’re investing in better understanding the complexity of obesity and weight management and to help address the stigmas around it.
Our continued research, innovation, and efforts in obesity have been helping people on their weight-loss journey for over 30 years.
The impact of obesity is significant and far-reaching. We all need to better understand this chronic disease in order to address it.
Maija, who practiced kickboxing and regularly ran marathons, struggled with obesity despite an active lifestyle. Her challenge with obesity started young, having grown up in a household where if food was put on the table, you had to eat it. It was ingrained in her to not be wasteful. She was 170 pounds at 12 years old, and as she got older, she gained more weight.
In time, daily activities became a challenge. In 2011, she survived her first heart attack, prompting her to seek help from an obesity specialist who educated her about obesity as a disease. Despite big lifestyle changes and healthy habits, she experienced another heart attack in 2021.
Undeterred, Maija persevered. She continued her journey, making progress toward her weight-loss goals one day at a time. Her journey illustrates the importance of self-advocacy and seeking the right support. She hopes her story will inspire others to make better choices for themselves and their loved ones.
CDC. Risk Factors for Obesity. Obesity. Published March 18, 2024. Accessed February 16, 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/risk-factors/risk-factors.html
Bray GA, Kim KK, Wilding JPH. Obesity: a chronic relapsing progressive disease. A position statement of the World Obesity Federation. Obes Rev. 2017;18(7):715-723
CDC. About Body Mass Index (BMI). Published December 16, 2025. Accessed February 10, 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/bmi/about/index.html
CDC. Adult obesity facts. Obesity. Published May 14, 2024. Accessed February 10, 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/adult-obesity-facts/
CDC. Managing Obesity in Schools. Obesity. Published July 8, 2024. Accessed February 10, 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/school-health-conditions/chronic/obesity.html
Ryan DH, Yockey SR. Weight loss and improvement in comorbidity: differences at 5%, 10%, 15%, and over. Curr Obes Rep. 2017; 6(2):187-194.
Tondt J, Freshwater M, Orr M, et al. Obesity algorithm 2025. Obesity Medicine Association. January 2025. Accessed February 10, 2026. https://obesitymedicine.org/resources/obesity-algorithm/
Garvey WT, Mechanick JI, Brett EM, et al; Reviewers of the AACE/ACE Obesity Clinical Practice Guidelines. American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists and American College of Endocrinology comprehensive clinical practice guidelines for medical care of patients with obesity. Endocr Pract. 2016;22(suppl 3):1-203.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Obesity and cancer. Updated June 11, 2025. Accessed February 10, 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/riskfactors/obesity.html
Raisi-Estabragh Z, Kobo O, Mieres JH, et al. Racial disparities in obesity-related cardiovascular mortality in the United States: temporal trends from 1999-2000. J Am Heart Assoc. 2023;12(18):e028409. Doi:10.1161/JAHA.122.028409