Overweight and obesity

Overweight and obesity refer to the abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that may impair health. It is measured by body mass index (BMI), a simple index of weight-for-height, which is commonly used to classify overweight and obesity among adults. BMI is calculated by dividing a person's weight in kilograms by the square of his/her height in meters (kg/m2). According to the WHO, adults with a BMI greater than or equal to twenty-five (25) are overweight and a BMI greater than or equal to thirty (30) is obese. For children, it is defined as the percentage of children aged zero (0) to fifty-nine (59) months whose weight for length/height is above two (2) SD (overweight) or above three (3) SD (obese) from the median of the WHO Child Growth Standards. (Sec. 6(m), R.A. No. 11148)