What is "partial obese"?

Question

My mom is 67 years old, 5' 5", around 155lb, retired art teacher, playing golf every week, almost-pro-tennis player and all time hiker (mountains). She goes to the gym every morning. I mean EVERY MORNING. And these doctors in Korea told her that she's PARTIALLY OBESE. Thus she belives that she's obese because of the DOCTORS SAID SO!! Well, it's like some kind of brainwash. No wonder in Korea they don't sell any size bigger than 4 for women (that's the borderline of obesity!!) except for the export purporse. Anyway, let's foget about my mom for now. But, once again, what dose it mean, "partially obese"? Maybe I am so outdated, so, please somebody, do please enlighten me.
p.s. they did it again! in one of hte korean tv show, those doctors said that this certain very young female singer, 95lb/ 5'5", is PARTIALLY OBESE(mostly on her face). HA!

Answer 1

Well, the older generation was brought up to think of doctors as demi-gods and having all the answers. If the doctor says so, it must be true. Pfftt...
First of all, as one ages, more fat tends to accumulate in the middle in both genders. So her tummy might be larger in comparison to other parts of her body. Not so long ago, someone came up with the notion that if your waist's circumference is larger than x inches or cm, then you're at an increased risk for heart disease, etc. But what they fail to tell you is the basis for this risk assessment. To simply say "there's a risk" without clearly qualifying how the assessment was done is totally meaningless. I'm a business person and understand risk calculations very well. So I can tell you that such blanket statements need to be taken with a grain of salt. Anyway, so what they may be talking about there re partial obesity may be her mid section being comparatively large, but again, that's a genetic and age based change in her.

At age 67, your mom sounds like she's in great shape. I honestly wouldn't even worry about it. At that age, what matters more is that she lives a happy and harmonious life. The stress related to "having to lose weight" would probably cause more damage than if she continues as she has. She's exercising and if she's a bit over, so what. If you look at elderly Koreans, you'll find that they're not all slim either.

Answer 2

She is not severely overweight at all. Her weight category is actually pretty normal for American women. I doubt most US doctors would even consider her "overweight". 125-130lbs for her height is the standard to she's not really anything to talk about. I'm 5'2" and around that weight and was told that I am "not bad at all"...just need to get more exercise. "Obese" is just a medical term for "overweight". It does not in any way imply that she is some fat slob!

Answer 3

It means that they are not morbidly obese, but they are overweight.

Even on a large frame, at that height, 135 to 140 is the max range.

Answer 4

that is the Korean docs. women in Asia are normally very thin. There norm is different than the US. If she is doing all that you say, she is healthy, her body will make the healthy weight. That wounds like a healthy weight, tell her not to worry about it and listen to her body.
that 95 pounder sounds anorexic.

Answer 5

they, (by they I mean doctors and nutritionists, I watched this on the news U.S.) now consider being 30 lbs overweight as being obese, stupid doctors or whoever made this one up

Answer 6

pratially obese is when your gut only hanges over your belt buckle, but stays above your zipper. lol, i didnt even bother to read about your mother. sorry =)

Answer 7

it means that you are on your way