Ylipainoksi

Ylipainoksi is a Finnish term used to describe the state of having excess body weight. In everyday language it is closely related to the concepts of overweight and obesity. In medical and public health writing, more precise terms are ylipaino and lihavuus, and weight status is typically classified using body mass index (BMI). Generally, a BMI of 25–29.9 is categorized as overweight, while a BMI of 30 or higher is categorized as obesity.

The use of ylipainoksi can appear in discussions about weight status, health risks, and lifestyle interventions, but it is less common as a formal clinical diagnosis. Health authorities and researchers usually refer to overweight or obesity when describing prevalence, causes, and treatments, and they rely on standardized measurements such as BMI, waist circumference, and related assessments.

Causes and risk factors of weight gain are multifactorial. They include energy intake exceeding expenditure, physical inactivity, genetic predispositions, metabolic factors, and environmental and social influences such as diet, urban design, and socioeconomic status. Ylipainoksi commonly increases the risk of several health problems, including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, certain cancers, musculoskeletal disorders, and sleep apnea.

Management emphasizes a combination of lifestyle changes, such as healthier eating and increased physical activity, often supported by behavioral therapy. In some cases, pharmacotherapy or bariatric surgery may be considered. Prevention focuses on early intervention and population-level measures that promote healthy eating and physical activity.