How many pounds overweight is considered obese?

Depends on height: The categories normal, overweight, and obese are defined by the body mass index (bmi), which is a measurement that looks at a person's weight in comparison to his height. Tall people are allowed to weigh more than short people are. Bmi calculators are available at a doctor's office and also on the internet. An adult with a BMI of 18.5-24.9 is normal, 25-29.9 is overweight, and 30 or more is obese.

By percentage: It is not the absolute pounds, but takes into consideration you height (in the bmi calculation). More useful, at least in the disease process, is the waist/hip ratio, which shows how much abdominal fat one has. Abdominal fat is particularly metabolically active, and thus more dangerous than leg fat (for example). >102 centimetres (40 in) in men and >88 centimetres (35 in) in women are obese.