Understanding Morbid Obesity

What is Morbid Obesity?

Morbid obesity means that a person is so overweight that his or her well being, health and life are actually in jeopardy. It is defined in several different ways:

1) Weighing more than 100 pounds over your ideal body weight. The ideal body weight is determined by the Metropolitan Life Insurance table, which has been in existence for many years (since 1959). These tables are based on mathematical formulas that the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company used to determine insurance risks. Most doctors have gotten away from using this table because it is very difficult to use (with separate categories for "frame size," and for men and women) and can be inaccurate.

2) A Body Mass Index (BMI) equal to or greater than 35 Kg/M2 - defined as weight (kilograms)/height2 (meters) - in a person who has associated medical problems. These include high blood pressure, sleep apnea, or diabetes. The BMI relates one's weight to his or her height in an attempt to generate a common denominator for all individuals.

3) A Body Mass Index (BMI) equal to or greater than 40 Kg/M2 in a person who either does or does not have other medical problems. Use our free online BMI calculator [File Name: bmi-calculator.php] to determine your BMI.

Morbid Obesity and CoMorbidities

It is estimated that over 400,000 people per year die in the U.S. alone of causes directly attributable to obesity.

Patients who are considered morbidly obese have a significantly higher chance of the following (as compared to individuals who are not overweight):

· Dying prematurely - morbidly obese individuals have a 300-500% greater chance of dying before the age of 76.
· Developing medical problems including diabetes (1200% higher), high blood pressure (500-600% higher) and heart disease (200-400% higher).
· Developing certain types of cancers such as colon, prostate, cervical, breast, and uterine cancer.
· Developing premature degenerative arthritis and joint pain causing limited mobility and activity.
· Developing Sleep Apnea and Pulmonary Hypertension (which leads to heart failure and potentially death).

Morbid Obesity and Morbid Obesity Surgery Weight-Loss Surgery works - and it changes lives

In general, patients who are able to lose weight by conventional or non-surgical means should do so rather than having surgery. Unfortunately, only 3-5% of individuals who diet are successful at both losing weight and keeping it off long term.

Surgery is a very effective and successful method of effecting long-term weight loss. In 1991 and again in 1998, a panel of medical experts convened by the US National Institutes of Health issued the statement that: "Only surgery has proven effective over the long term as treatment for severe obesity and should be considered the standard of care for all patients who have failed dietary attempts at weight loss."

Surgery is certainly more risky than dieting; however, in the hands of an experienced surgeon, the risks of surgery are lower than the long-term risks to one's health and longevity caused by obesity.

Contact our office to speak directly with a weight-loss specialist at 808-561-5511 or toll free at (866) WLS DOCS