Defining Morbid Obesity

Obesity is an excess of total body fat, which results from caloric intake that exceeds energy usage.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) states that a person is considered "obese" when he or she weighs 20 percent or more than his or her ideal body weight, which is when the person's weight poses a real health risk. Obesity becomes "morbid" when it significantly increases the risk of one or more obesity-related health conditions or serious diseases (also known as co-morbidities). Morbid obesity is defined as a Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than 40.

Obesity is a serious disease with symptoms that build slowly over an extended period of time. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) define morbid obesity as:

                 Or, having a BMI of 35 or greater and one or more co-morbid condition

Body Mass Index 

 A measurement used to assess health risks of obesity is Body Mass Index (BMI). BMI is calculated by dividing body weight (lbs.) by height in inches squared (in²) and multiplying that amount by 704.5. The metric calculation for BMI is kg/m2. See our BMI Calculator.

Classifications:

The American Obesity Association reports that obese individuals have a 50-100% increased risk of death as compared to normal weight individuals, with 300,000 to 587,000 deaths each year. This substantial increase in health risks has made obesity the second leading cause of preventable death in the United States.

The disease of morbid obesity interferes with basic physical functions such as breathing or walking. Long-term implications of the disease include shorter life expectancy, serious health consequences in the form of weight-related conditions such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease, and a lower quality of life with fewer economic and social opportunities.

 Obesity is a serious public health issue in the U.S.

 Obesity: A Disease

 Obesity is emerging as a health epidemic around the world. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, obesity is rapidly spreading across all regions and demographic groups. An estimated 97 million adults in the United States are overweight or obese. That figure represents more than 50% of the American adult population. Of this group, 11 million adults suffer from severe obesity.

Learn more about Obesity-related health problems.

 Results of Five-Year Follow-up 

* Success measured as a loss of 10 percent of initial body weight.

** Weight loss is not maintained once treatment ends.

*** Success measured as a loss of 50 percent of excess body weight (equivalent to loss of approximately 20 to 25 percent of initial body weight).

The above chart compares the long-term effectiveness of three different obesity treatments: diet and exercise, weight loss medications, and bariatric surgery.

Bariatric surgery clearly has the best weight loss outcome compared to the other two treatments—50 to 70 percent of people were able to lose at least 50 percent of the excess weight and keep it off for five years.

After five years, only 2 to 5 percent of the people who dieted and exercised had maintained a weight loss of at least 10 percent.

People who had taken weight loss medications were not able to maintain any weight loss.

Learn more about the different bariatric surgery procedures.

 To lose weight, your body must burn more calories than you eat and/or drink. A diet plan should be based on your health and lifestyle needs, and would include reducing the number of calories you take in. If you are considering this option, speak with your primary care physician about nutritional guidelines.

Frequent and regular physical activity is beneficial to most anyone—whether they are pre- or postsurgery. Generally, an exercise program includes cardiovascular exercise such as walking, swimming, or cycling, strength training using resistance bands, weights, or machines, and stretching. Speak with your primary care physician before beginning any physical activity.

Prescription weight loss medications may be considered a supplement to diet and exercise. Only a healthcare professional can prescribe these weight loss medications.