Final answer:
Obesity cannot be determined by weight alone but requires considering a person's height as well, typically calculated by BMI. The obesity threshold for a 5'9" male is roughly 203.5 lb.
Step-by-step explanation:
The obesity threshold for a young adult American male cannot be determined based solely on weight because it doesn't take into account an individual's height, muscle mass or overall health. Instead, a measure known as the Body Mass Index (BMI) is commonly used. This calculation takes both a person's weight and height into account. Obesity is typically defined for males and females as having a BMI of 30 or above. Therefore, the weight that would lead to obesity depends on a man's height. For example, for a man who is 5'9" tall, the weight that would categorize him as obese would be approximately 203.5 lb.
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