or Understanding the Difference between Obesity and Morbid Obesity
May 27, 2010, by Mark A. Colquitt, MD, FACS, FASMBS
Obesity, having too much body fat, is defined as having a body mass index (BMI) of greater than 30. BMI is a measure of your weight relative to your height. To calculate your BMI online, click here.
Morbid obesity, which is also termed “clinically severe obesity,” is typically defined as being more than 100 pounds overweight or having a BMI of 40 or higher. An estimated 5-10 million Americans are considered morbidly obese. Morbid obesity significantly increases the risk of one or more obesity-related health conditions or serious diseases – also known as co-morbidities – that result either in significant physical disability or even death.
Co-morbidities include medical problems like heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, certain cancers, osteoarthritis and sleep apnea.
Extreme obesity may also lead to a gradual decrease in the level of oxygen in your blood, a condition known as hypoxemia. Decreased blood oxygen levels and sleep apnea may cause you to feel sleepy during the day and may lead to high blood pressure and pulmonary hypertension. In extreme cases, particularly if the condition is left untreated, patients may suffer right-sided heart failure and ultimately death.
According to the National Institutes of Health Consensus Report, morbid obesity is a serious disease and must be treated as such. It is a chronic disease, meaning that its symptoms build slowly over an extended period of time.
If you suffer from health conditions associated with your weight, don’t delay seeking treatment. Contact our office today to find out whether weight loss surgery may be an option to help you lead a healthier and longer life.
To sign up for a free seminar on surgical weight loss options, click here.
| Share This on Facebook |  Share This on Twitter |
Posted in Diabetes, Obesity, Sleep Apnea | Comments (6)
6 Responses to “Understanding the Difference between Obesity and Morbid Obesity”
Blogs linking to this article
- Taking Steps Toward a Healthier Community « Foothills Weight Loss Specialists
- Diabetes Services Fair Set for Nov. 1 « Foothills Weight Loss Specialists
- ‘Look What I’ve Done to Myself!’ « Foothills Weight Loss Specialists
- Diabetes: A Costly Disease « Foothills Weight Loss Specialists
- American Heart Association Recognizes Benefits of Bariatric Surgery « Foothills Weight Loss Specialists
- Premier Surgical Associates – Connect – Blog » Understanding the Difference between Obesity and Morbid Obesity
Leave a Reply
Subscribe free by RSS
Subscribe free by e-mail
Since 2002, more than 1,000 patients have lost a total of over 100,000 pounds – over 50 tons – as a result of weight loss surgery by our surgeons, Dr. Mark Colquitt and Dr. Jonathan Ray. Both surgeons are board certified by the American Board of Surgery and are fellows of the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. Foothills Weight Loss Specialists offers a range of surgical weight loss options, including gastric bypass, Realize adjustable gastric band and laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy.
