Home Conditions & Treatments Treatments Weight Loss: Morbid Obesity

Morbid obesity is defined as being 45 kilogram (100 pounds) overweight. This is equivalent to having a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40. When body weight approaches this level, the person is at great risk for many serious illnesses. Therefore, it is now universally accepted that morbid obesity is a disease, and not just a mere variation in body size.

When body weight reaches this level, traditional non-surgical weight loss efforts, such as dieting, exercise and the use of anti-obesity drugs, almost always fail or do not achieve lasting results. For these patients, surgical weight reduction by bariatric surgery is the only realistic option to achieve successful and long-lasting weight control. It has been approved by the National Institute of Health (NIH) in the USA as the definitive treatment of morbid obesity.

Morbid Obesity, causes many serious illnesses (co-morbidities), including

Diabetes
High blood pressure
High levels of lipids and cholesterol
Heart failure and heart attacks
Strokes
Sleep apnea
Fatty liver, gallstones and gall bladder infection
Heartburn or Gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD)
Asthma
Pain in weight-bearing joints of the back, hips, knees and ankles
Blood clots in the leg, which can move to the lungs and cause sudden death
Pregnancy complications, including diabetes, high blood pressure, pre-eclampsia
Abnormal menstruation and infertility in women
Bladder problems
Increased risks for certain cancers
Being accident-prone
Psychological problems and social difficulties
Shortened life-expectancy

Created When: November 11, 2010

Last modify: August 22, 2023

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