What it means
The CDC defines overweight in adults as a BMI of 25 to less than 30, between healthy weight and obesity. For children and teens, it means a BMI at the 85th to below the 95th percentile for age and sex.
Overweight on its own does not always mean poor health. Risk depends on where fat is stored, fitness, blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol and family history. A large waist adds risk even within this BMI range.
FDA labels for weight-management medicines such as Wegovy and Zepbound include adults with a BMI of 27 or more who also have at least one weight-related condition, such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes or high cholesterol.
For people with overweight, modest weight loss of about 5% can improve blood pressure and blood sugar, and lifestyle changes are usually the first step.
Why it matters
At a BMI of 27 to 29.9, GLP-1 eligibility depends on having a documented weight-related condition.