Obesity Glossary of TermsThe following are health and medical definitions of terms that appear in the Obesity article.
Absorption: Uptake. For example, intestinal absorption is the uptake of food (or other sub... See the entire definition of AbsorptionAntidepressants: Anything, and especially a drug, used to prevent or treat depression. Apnea: The absence of breathing (respiration). Aspirin: Once the Bayer trademark for acetylsalicylic acid, now the common name for this a... See the entire definition of AspirinBack pain: Pain felt in the low or upper back. Causes of pain in the low and upper back in... See the entire definition of Back painBariatric: Pertaining to the study, prevention, or treatment of overweight. Bariatric surgery: Surgery on the stomach and/or intestines to help a person with extrem... See the entire definition of Bariatric surgeryBioinformatics: The sum of the computational approaches to analyze, manage, and store biol... See the entire definition of BioinformaticsBiotechnology: The fusion of biology and technology, the application of biological techniq... See the entire definition of BiotechnologyBirth control: Birth control is the use of any practices, methods, or devices to prevent p... See the entire definition of Birth controlBlood pressure: The blood pressure is the pressure of the blood within the arteries. It is... See the entire definition of Blood pressureBMI: Body mass index. Body mass index: A key index for relating weight to height. Abbreviated BMI. BMI is a pers... See the entire definition of Body mass indexBrain: The portion of the central nervous system that is located within the skull. It func... See the entire definition of BrainBreastfeeding: Feeding a child human breast milk. According to the American Academy of Ped... See the entire definition of BreastfeedingBulimia: Also called bulimia nervosa. An eating disorder characterized by episodes of secr... See the entire definition of BulimiaBypass: An operation in which a new pathway is created for the transport of substances in ... See the entire definition of BypassCaffeine: A stimulant compound found naturally in coffee, tea, cocoa (chocolate), and kola... See the entire definition of CaffeineCalorie: A unit of food energy. The word calorie is ordinarily used instead of the more pr... See the entire definition of CalorieCancer: An abnormal growth of cells which tend to proliferate in an uncontrolled way and, ... See the entire definition of CancerCardiovascular: Relating to the circulatory system, which comprises the heart and blood ve... See the entire definition of CardiovascularCenters for Disease Control and Prevention: The US agency charged with tracking and invest... See the entire definition of Centers for Disease Control and PreventionChronic: In medicine, lasting a long time. A chronic condition is one that lasts 3 months ... See the entire definition of ChronicChronic disease: A disease that persists for a long time. A chronic disease is one lasting... See the entire definition of Chronic diseaseCleft lip: A fissure in the upper lip that is due to failure of the left and right sides o... See the entire definition of Cleft lipColon: The long, coiled, tubelike organ that removes water from digested food. The remaini... See the entire definition of ColonColon cancer: A malignant tumor arising from the inner wall of the large intestine (the co... See the entire definition of Colon cancerConstipation: Infrequent and frequently incomplete bowel movements. Constipation is the op... See the entire definition of ConstipationCough: A rapid expulsion of air from the lungs, typically in order to clear the lung airwa... See the entire definition of CoughCushing syndrome: The constellation of symptoms and signs caused by an excess of cortisol ... See the entire definition of Cushing syndromeDementia: Significant loss of intellectual abilities, such as memory capacity, that is sev... See the entire definition of DementiaDepression: An illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts and that affects the way... See the entire definition of DepressionDiabetes: Refers to diabetes mellitus or, less often, to diabetes insipidus. Diabetes mell... See the entire definition of DiabetesDiabetes mellitus: Better known just as "diabetes" -- a chronic disease associated with ab... See the entire definition of Diabetes mellitusDiagnosis: 1 The nature of a disease; the identification of an illness. 2 A ... See the entire definition of DiagnosisDiarrhea: A common condition that involves unusually frequent and liquid bowel movements. ... See the entire definition of DiarrheaDigestive system: The system of organs responsible for getting food into and out of the bo... See the entire definition of Digestive systemDizziness: Painless head discomfort with many possible causes including disturbances of ... See the entire definition of DizzinessDry mouth: The condition of not having enough saliva to keep the mouth wet. This is due to... See the entire definition of Dry mouthEndocrinology: The study of the medical aspects of hormones, including diseases and condit... See the entire definition of EndocrinologyEndometrial cancer: Cancer of the womb (the uterus ). Endometrial cancer occurs most often... See the entire definition of Endometrial cancerEphedra: A medicinal herb, known scientifically as Ephedra sinica and Ephedra equisetina, ... See the entire definition of EphedraEpidemic: The occurrence of more cases of a disease than would be expected in a community... See the entire definition of EpidemicFDA: Food and Drug Administration. Gallstones: Stones that form when substances in the bile harden. Gallstones can be as smal... See the entire definition of GallstonesGastric: Having to do with the stomach. Genes: The basic biological units of heredity. Segments of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) nee... See the entire definition of GenesGout: Condition characterized by abnormally elevated levels of uric acid in the blood, rec... See the entire definition of GoutHDL: High density lipoprotein. Headache: A pain in the head with the pain being above the eyes or the ears, behind the he... See the entire definition of HeadacheHeart: The muscle that pumps blood received from veins into arteries throughout the body. ... See the entire definition of HeartHeart attack: The death of heart muscle due to the loss of blood supply. The loss of bloo... See the entire definition of Heart attackHeart disease: Any disorder that affects the heart. Sometimes the term "heart disease" is ... See the entire definition of Heart diseaseHeart rate: The number of heartbeats per unit of time, usually per minute. The heart rate ... See the entire definition of Heart rateHemorrhagic: Pertaining to bleeding or the abnormal flow of blood. Herbal: 1. An adjective, referring to herbs, as in an herbal tea. High blood pressure: A repeatedly elevated blood pressure exceeding 140 over 90 mmHg. Chro... See the entire definition of High blood pressureHypertension: High blood pressure, defined as a repeatedly elevated blood pressure exceedi... See the entire definition of HypertensionIncontinence: The inability to control excretions, to hold urine in the bladder, or to kee... See the entire definition of IncontinenceInformatics: The application of computers and statistics to the management of information.... See the entire definition of InformaticsInsomnia: The perception or complaint of inadequate or poor-quality sleep due to a number ... See the entire definition of InsomniaInternal medicine: The medical specialty dedicated to the diagnosis and medical treatment ... See the entire definition of Internal medicineIntestine: The long, tubelike organ in the abdomen that completes the process of digestion... See the entire definition of IntestineJenny Craig: Jenny Craig is a diet program that originated in Australia in 1983 in Austral... See the entire definition of Jenny CraigKnee: The knee is a joint which has three parts. The thigh bone (the femur) meets the lar... See the entire definition of KneeLiposuction: The surgical suctioning of fat deposits from specific parts of the body, the ... See the entire definition of LiposuctionLungs: The lungs are a pair of breathing organs located with the chest which remove carbon... See the entire definition of LungsMarker: A piece of DNA that lies on a chromosome so close to a gene that the marker and t... See the entire definition of MarkerMetabolism: The whole range of biochemical processes that occur within a living organism. ... See the entire definition of MetabolismMouth: 1. The upper opening of the digestive tract, beginning with the lips and con... See the entire definition of MouthMuscle: Muscle is the tissue of the body which primarily functions as a source of power. T... See the entire definition of MuscleNausea: Stomach queasiness, the urge to vomit. Nausea can be brought on by many causes, in... See the entire definition of NauseaNutrition: 1) The science or practice of taking in and utilizing foods. 2) A nourishing ... See the entire definition of NutritionObese: Well above ones normal weight. A person has traditionally been considered to be obe... See the entire definition of ObeseObesity: The state of being well above one's normal weight. Osteoarthritis: A type of arthritis caused by inflammation, breakdown, and eventual loss ... See the entire definition of OsteoarthritisOvarian: Of or pertaining to the ovary. Overweight: The term "overweight" is used in two different ways. In one sense it is a way ... See the entire definition of OverweightPain: An unpleasant sensation that can range from mild, localized discomfort to agony. Pa... See the entire definition of PainPalate: The roof of the mouth. The front portion is bony (hard palate), and the back porti... See the entire definition of PalatePharmacy: A location where prescription medications are sold. A pharmacy is constantly sup... See the entire definition of PharmacyPolycystic ovarian syndrome: Abbreviated PCOS. Polycystic ovarian syndrome is a condition ... See the entire definition of Polycystic ovarian syndromePound: A measure of weight that is equal to 16 ounces or, metrically, 453.6 grams. Abbrevi... See the entire definition of PoundPrader-Willi syndrome: A syndrome characterized by severe hypotonia (floppiness), poor suc... See the entire definition of Prader-Willi syndromePregnancy: The state of carrying a developing embryo or fetus within the female body. Thi... See the entire definition of PregnancyPrescription: A physician's order for the preparation and administration of a drug or dev... See the entire definition of PrescriptionPrimary care: A patient's main source for regular medical care, ideally providing continui... See the entire definition of Primary carePrognosis: The forecast of the probable outcome or course of a disease; the patient's chan... See the entire definition of PrognosisPulmonary: Having to do with the lungs. Pulmonary hypertension: High blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries. This elevated blood... See the entire definition of Pulmonary hypertensionReceptor: 1. In cell biology, a structure on the surface of a cell (or inside a cel... See the entire definition of ReceptorRisk factor: Something that increases a person's chances of developing a disease. For exam... See the entire definition of Risk factorSerotonin: A neurotransmitter that is involved in the transmission of nerve impulses. Sero... See the entire definition of SerotoninSleep: The body's rest cycle. Sleep apnea: The temporary stoppage of breathing during sleep, often resulting in daytime ... See the entire definition of Sleep apneaStomach: The digestive organ that is located in the upper abdomen, under the ribs. The upp... See the entire definition of StomachStool: The solid matter that is discharged in a bowel movement. Stroke: The sudden death of brain cells due to lack of oxygen, caused by blockage of blood... See the entire definition of StrokeSubstance: 1. Material with particular features. Surgery: The branch of medicine that employs operations in the treatment of disease or inj... See the entire definition of SurgerySyndrome: A combination of symptoms and signs that together represent a disease process. Taste: A perception that results from stimulation of a gustatory nerve. Taste belongs to t... See the entire definition of TasteTherapy: The treatment of disease. Therapy is synonymous with treatment. Tobacco: A South American herb (Nicotiana tabacum) whose leaves contain 2 to 8 percent nic... See the entire definition of TobaccoTooth: One of the structures within the mouth that allow for biting and chewing. Teeth hav... See the entire definition of ToothWeight loss: Weight loss is a decrease in body weight resulting from either voluntary (die... See the entire definition of Weight lossWeight Watchers: Weight Watchers is a diet plan first developed in the 1960s that encourag... See the entire definition of Weight Watchers
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