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Glossary
Learn more about the language used in weight management care with healthcare providers.
Around Obesity Care
Terms to know
A
Adioposity / Adiposity based chronic disease
Another name for obesity. Rather than focusing just on weight, ABCD takes into account the health impact of excess weight, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some types of cancers. This term identifies obesity as a chronic disease, places the focus on the health risks of having excess weight or adipose tissue (body fat), and avoids the stigma associated with the term "obesity."
B
Bariatric surgery
Any type of surgical procedure performed on the stomach and/or intestines to help bring about long-term weight loss. Also known as obesity surgery.
B
behavioral therapy
The name used for a wide range of behavior-change techniques that focus on adjusting your ingrained lifestyle habits, especially those related to eating and physical activity. Examples of behavioral therapy include goal setting, stimulus control, behavioral substitution, cognitive restructuring, and joining a support group. Also known as behavioral counseling.
B
Body Mass Index
A screening tool that uses your height and weight to determine if you are underweight (BMI less than 18.5), of healthy weight (BMI between 18.5 and 25), overweight (BMI between 25 and 30), or obese (BMI 30 or above). BMI provides a quick estimate of body fat and is not affected by age, gender, or race. However, it does not account for factors such as muscle mass, age, sex, or location of fat in your body.
D
Disordered eating behaviors (DEBs)
Abnormal eating behaviors, including bulimia, anorexia nervosa, binge eating, and purging. Because these behaviors can make it harder for you to recognize your body's hunger and fullness signals, they may lead you to overeat and gain excess weight. Also known as eating disorders.
E
Endocrinologist
A physician who has received specialized training in diagnosing and treating hormone-related diseases and conditions, including obesity, thyroid disease, osteoporosis, diabetes, infertility, and adrenal disorders.
G
Gasteroenterologist
A physician who has specializes treating specializes in diagnosing and treating diseases of the digestive system, which includes organs like the esophagus, stomach, small and large intestines, liver, pancreas, gallbladder, and bile ducts
G
GLP-1 Injections
Glucagon-like peptide-1, is a natural hormone that helps regulate blood sugar, digestion, and appetite. Medications that mimic this hormone, or GLP-1 agonists, are used to manage insulin release when blood sugar is high, slowing stomach emptying, and reducing appetite by signaling fullness to the brain.
I
Internalized Weight bias
Negative attitudes about obesity that people with obesity hold against themselves and others with obesity. IWB can interfere with your opinion of yourself, your quality of life, your relationships, and obesity-related self-care. People with IWB may be less likely to see a health care professional for obesity treatment or follow their treatment plan.
L
Laproscopic adjustable gastric band surgery
A type of obesity surgery that uses an inflatable silicone band around the top part of your stomach to create a smaller stomach pouch with an adjustable opening.
L
Laproscopic gastric sleeve surgery
A type of weight loss or obesity surgery in which much of your stomach is removed.
M
Metabolic syndrome
A group of conditions that raise your risk of serious medical problems such as heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. The risk of metabolic syndrome increases with obesity. Individuals with metabolic syndrome have one or more of the following: high blood pressure (hypertension), high blood sugar, unhealthy cholesterol levels, and extra belly fat.
M
Mounjauro(Tirezepatide)
A diabetes drug that was found to bring about weight loss in a clinical trial. It is not yet FDA-approved for obesity, but it is currently undergoing a clinical trial to evaluate safety and efficacy as a weight-management medication in individuals without diabetes.
o
obesity
A biological, preventable, and treatable disease that means a person has too much body fat. Various factors can contribute to obesity, including family history and environment. Health care professionals may use body mass index (BMI) to determine whether you are obese. Someone is considered obese if their BMI is 30 or above. Also known as adiposity-based chronic disease (ABCD).
o
obstrutive sleep apnea
A medical condition where your breathing stops and restarts frequently during the night, starving your body of oxygen and preventing you from getting enough sleep. The risk of OSA is high in individuals with obesity, because airways can become blocked by excess fat in your neck. Losing weight can help reduce OSA symptoms.
p
Prediabetes
​A medical condition where your blood sugar is higher than normal, but not high enough for a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. Being overweight or obese significantly raises your risk of developing prediabetes. Many people with prediabetes go on to develop type 2 diabetes. Healthy eating, exercise, and weight loss may prevent or postpone type 2 diabetes in these cases.
S
Semaglutide injections
(Also known commonly as GLP-1s) A type of weight-management medication that reduces your appetite and helps you feel fuller by slowing down stomach emptying. It's also prescribed to treat diabetes.
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