Obesity is excessive body mass, and one is generally considered obese if the Body Mass Index (BMI) is greater than 40. “Morbid" means causing disease or injury. Morbid obesity is a serious disease process in which the accumulation of fatty tissue becomes excessive and interferes with or injures the other bodily organs, causing serious and life-threatening health problems. These problems are called co-morbidities.
Morbid obesity is recognized by the consensus of medical opinion as a serious problem, a disease process. In most cases, the underlying problem is genetic, meaning you inherit the tendency to gain weight. Once the problem is established, there is very little that willpower can do about it, any more than a diabetic can control his/her blood sugar by willpower.
How do you know if you are morbidly obese?
There are three criteria:
- You are more than 100 pounds over your "ideal body weight." This is a weight established actuarially at which you are likely to live the longest, not that you wish you could weigh, which is less.
- Your Body Mass Index (BMI) is greater than 40, or greater than 35 and accompanied by serious co-morbidities.
- You have co-morbidities from being seriously overweight. Some examples are high blood pressure, edema, high blood sugar, shortness of breath, etc.
What are the health effects of morbid obesity?
Severe obesity damages the body by its mechanical, metabolic and physiological adverse effects on normal body function. The co-morbidities affect nearly every organ in the body in some way and produce serious secondary illnesses, which may also be life-threatening. The cumulative effect of these co-morbidities can interfere with a normal and productive life, cause endless frustration and can seriously shorten life as well. Co-morbidities include:
- Heart disease
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Diabetes Mellitus
- Sleep Apnea Syndrome
- Obesity Hyperventilation Syndrome
- Respiratory insufficiency
- Heartburn-Reflux disease and Reflux nocturnal aspiration
- Asthma and Bronchitis
- Gallbladder disease
- Urinary stress incontinence
- Degenerative disease of lumbar-sacral spine
- Degenerative arthritis of weight -bearing joints
- Venous statis disease
- Emotional/psychological disease
- Social effects
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