Dec 18 (Reuters) - Here are some key facts on obesity:

* WHAT IS OBESITY?

-- Obesity is a disorder that occurs when energy intake exceeds energy expenditure over a long period of time.

-- It is calculated using body mass index (BMI). Individual with BMI values between 25 and 29.9 are classed as overweight, while those with a BMI of 30 and above are considered obese.

* OBESITY IN NUMBERS

-- At least 400 million adults worldwide are obese. The World Health Organization (WHO) projects that by 2015, some 2.3 billion adults will be overweight and more than 700 million will be obese.

-- At least 20 million children under the age of 5 years are overweight. North America, Europe and part of the Western Pacific have the highest prevalence of overweight children at about 20-30 percent.

-- The United States has the highest prevalence of obesity among developed nations, at about one-third of the adult population, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

-- Up to 23 percent of men and as many as 36 percent of women in Europe are obese and one third of children are overweight. * COMPLICATIONS:

-- Obesity is linked to a number of health complications including Type 2 diabetes, osteoarthritis, heart disease, strokes and certain cancers. Psychological problems include low self-esteem and depression.

-- Obesity increases with age and BMI can also go up in women with the number of pregnancies.

-- An estimated two to eight percent of healthcare expenditure in Western countries is attributable to obesity.

* WHY PEOPLE ARE OBESE:

-- The causes of obesity are varied but in most cases it is due to unhealthy eating and lack of exercise. Psychological factors such as negative emotions and boredom or depression play a role along with physical problems and genetics. How the body regulates weight and body fat is still not fully understood.

-- Four pillars of effective weight loss are diet, behaviour modification, physical activity and social support.

-- Obesity-related conditions are second only to smoking as a cause of preventable death.

-- Some drugs such as steroids, hormones and psychoactive drugs such as traditional antidepressants can also cause weight gain.

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