Overweight
Being overweight means carrying more body fat than is healthy for your height. It sits on the spectrum between a healthy weight and obesity, and is defined by a body mass index (BMI) between 25 and 29.9. In some populations, adjusted BMI thresholds are used, reflecting differences in how excess fat affects metabolic health at a given body size.
Key points
- The body stores calories eaten beyond what it burns as fat, and genetics, hormone problems or certain medicines can tip that balance.
- Poor sleep and diets heavy in ultra-processed food, alongside a sedentary working day, all make this increasingly common.
- Orlistat leaves roughly a third of the fat eaten unabsorbed in the gut, which can aid calorie reduction on a lower-fat diet.
Why weight accumulates
Energy imbalance is the core driver: the body stores excess calories as fat when intake consistently exceeds what is burned. Genetics, hormonal conditions such as hypothyroidism, certain medicines, poor sleep, and high-stress urban lifestyles all tip that balance. Diets rich in ultra-processed foods and sedentary office work make overweight increasingly common.
Managing overweight
Sustained lifestyle change is the foundation. Reducing portion sizes, choosing whole foods over refined carbohydrates, and building regular movement into the day produce meaningful results over months rather than weeks.
When lifestyle adjustments alone are not enough, weight management medicines may help. Orlistat works in the gut to block roughly a third of dietary fat from being absorbed, supporting calorie reduction when combined with a lower-fat diet.
If your weight is affecting blood pressure, blood sugar, or joints, a doctor can assess whether further investigation or treatment is needed.