Obesity
Excessive accumulation of body fat.
Calorie
A measure of food energy equivalent to the amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of 1 gram of water 1 degree Celsius.
Basal metabolic rate (BMR)
The minimum number of calories the body needs to maintain bodily functions while at rest.
Set-point hypothesis
The idea that each person's body weight is genetically set within a given range, or set point, that the body works hard to maintain
Leptin
The weight-signaling hormone monitored by the hypothalamus as an index of body fat.
Adipocytes
Collapsible body cells that store fat.
Body mass index (BMI)
A measure of obesity calculated by diving body weight by the square of a person's height.
Male patter obesity
The "apple-shaped" body of men who carry excess weight around their upper body and abdomen.
Female pattern obesity
The "pear-shaped" body of women who carry excess weight on their thighs and hips.
Overweight
Body weight that exceeds the desirable weight for a person of a given height, age, and body shape.
Weight cycling
Repeated weight gains and losses through repeated dieting.
Food deserts
Geographical areas with little or no access to foods needed to maintain a healthy diet.
Anorexia nervosa
An eating disorder characterized by self-starvation, a distorted body image, and, in females, amenorrhea.
Bulimia nervosa
An eating disorder characterized by alternating cycles of binge eating and purging through such techniques as vomiting or laxative abuse.
Binge-eating disorder
An eating disorder in which a person frequently consumes unusually large amounts of food.
Family therapy
A type of psychotherapy in which individuals within a family learn healthier ways to interact with each other and resolve conflicts.