What term is used to describe excessive body weight that is 20 percent or more above the recommended weight?

The term that describes excessive body weight that is 20 percent or more above the recommended weight is "obesity." Obesity is a medical condition characterized by an accumulation of body fat that increases the risk of health problems, including heart disease, diabetes, and certain types of cancer. It is typically assessed using the Body Mass Index (BMI), which provides a ratio of an individual's weight relative to their height. When BMI indicates that a person is significantly above the ideal weight range, it often correlates to this classification of obesity.

In contrast, the term "overweight" usually refers to body weight that is above what is considered healthy but less than what would be classified as obesity, often described as being between 10 to 20 percent over the recommended weight. "Malnutrition" refers to deficiencies, excesses, or imbalances in a person's intake of energy and/or nutrients, and thus does not apply to body weight classifications related to obesity. "Cachexia" is a complex syndrome associated with various diseases and is characterized by weight loss, muscle wasting, and a decrease in appetite, which is fundamentally different from the concept of obesity.