What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
obese
Example
The doctor diagnosed him as obese due to his high BMI. [obese: adjective]
Example
Obesity is a serious health concern that can lead to various diseases. [obesity: noun]
overweight
Example
She has been struggling with being overweight for years. [overweight: adjective]
Example
Being overweight increases the risk of developing heart disease. [overweight: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Overweight is a more commonly used term than obese in everyday language. This is because overweight is a milder condition that affects a larger portion of the population. Obese is less common and is typically used in medical or clinical settings.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between obese and overweight?
Both obese and overweight can be used in formal and informal contexts. However, obese may have a more clinical or technical connotation, while overweight is more commonly used in everyday language.
