A recent review concludes that people with obesity have a reduced ability to detect and discriminate smell compared with those who are not obese. Obesity is a medical condition characterized by an excessive amount of body fat. It is a global issue that affects millions of people worldwide, and it is a risk factor for diabetes and heart disease. Doctors or nutritionists can identify obesity using the body mass index (BMI). The BMI is a diagnostic tool that assesses if a person is an appropriate weight for their age, sex, and height. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), global obesity has nearly tripled since 1975. In 2016, almost 2 billion adults were overweight, of which 650 million were obese. In the same year, 41 million children under 5 years old were overweight or obese. In 2013, the American Medical Association (AMA) recognized obesity as a disease. The decision changed the way the medical community related to this complex issue. The ruling challenged the widespread idea that obesity is the direct consequence of eating too much and not doing enough physical activity. The AMA argued that "some people do not have complete control of their weight."

Full article: Medical News Today