What Is Morbid Obesity?

Morbid obesity is a condition in which you have a body mass index (BMI) higher than 35.
BMI is used to estimate body fat and can help determine if you are at a healthy body weight
for your size. BMI is not a perfect measurement but it does help give a general idea of ideal
weight ranges for height.

Causes
What Causes Morbid Obesity?
When you eat, your body uses the calories you consume to run your body. Even at rest, the
body needs calories to pump your heart or digest food. If those calories are not used, the body
stores them as fat. Your body will build up fat stores if you continue to eat more calories than
your body can use during daily activities and exercise. Obesity and morbid obesity are the
result of too much fat being stored in your body.

Certain medications, such as antidepressants, can cause weight gain. Medical conditions such
as hypothyroidism can also lead to weight gain, but can usually be managed so that they do
not lead to obesity.

Risk Factors
Who Is at Risk for Morbid Obesity?
Anyone can gain weight and become obese if they eat more calories than their bodies can
use.

Some studies have shown that genetic factors can play a role in how your body stores energy.
More research is being done to further explore the relationship between genes and weight.

Many behavioral factors play a role in obesity as well, including your eating habits and daily
activity level. Many people develop their eating habits as children and have trouble refining
them to maintain proper body weight as they age. As an adult, you may be inactive at your
job and have less time for exercise, meal planning, and physical activity.

Other factors, such as stress, anxiety, and lack of sleep, can lead to weight gain. People
who quit smoking often experience temporary weight gain. Women may also have
trouble losing the weight they gain during pregnancy, or may gain additional weight
during menopause. These factors do not necessarily lead to morbid obesity but can
certainly contribute to its onsetObesity
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For the medical journal, see Obesity (journal).

 Obesity

Silhouettes and waist circumferences representing

optimal, overweight, and obese

Specialty Endocrinology

Symptoms Increased fat[1]

Cardiovascular diseases, type 2

diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea,
Complications
certain types of cancer, osteoarthritis,
depression[2][3]

Excessive food, lack of exercise,

Causes
genetics[1][4]

Diagnostic method BMI > 30 kg/m2[1]

Prevention Societal changes, personal choices[1]

Diet, exercise, medications,

Treatment
surgery[1][5][6]

Prognosis Reduce life expectancy[2]

Frequency 700 million / 12% (2015)[7]

[edit on Wikidata]

Obesity is a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it
may have a negative effect on health.[1] People are generally considered obese when their
body mass index (BMI), a measurement obtained by dividing a person's weight by the square
of the person's height, is over 30 kg/m2, with the range 25–30 kg/m2 defined as overweight.[1]
Some East Asian countries use lower values.[8] Obesity increases the likelihood of various
diseases and conditions, particularly cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, obstructive
sleep apnea, certain types of cancer, osteoarthritis and depression.[2][3]

Obesity is most commonly caused by a combination of excessive food intake, lack of

physical activity, and genetic susceptibility.[1][4] A few cases are caused primarily by genes,
endocrine disorders, medications, or mental disorder.[9] The view that obese people eat little
yet gain weight due to a slow metabolism is not generally supported.[10] On average, obese
people have a greater energy expenditure than their normal counterparts due to the energy
required to maintain an increased body mass.[10][11]

Obesity is mostly preventable through a combination of social changes and personal

choices.[1] Changes to diet and exercising are the main treatments.[2] Diet quality can be
improved by reducing the consumption of energy-dense foods, such as those high in fat and
sugars, and by increasing the intake of dietary fiber.[1] Medications can be used, along with a
suitable diet, to reduce appetite or decrease fat absorption.[5] If diet, exercise, and medication
are not effective, a gastric balloon or surgery may be performed to reduce stomach volume or
length of the intestines, leading to feeling full earlier or a reduced ability to absorb nutrients
from food.[6][12]

Obesity is a leading preventable cause of death worldwide, with increasing rates in adults and
children.[1][13] In 2015, 600 million adults (12%) and 100 million children were obese in 195
countries.[7] Obesity is more common in women than men.[1] Authorities view it as one of the
most serious public health problems of the 21st century.[14] Obesity is stigmatized in much of
the modern world (particularly in the Western world), though it was seen as a symbol of
wealth and fertility at other times in history and still is in some parts of the world.[2][15] In
2013, the American Medical Association classified obesity as a disease.[16][17]

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