What is Morbid Obesity?
Obesity results from the excessive accumulation of fat that exceeds your body's skeletal and physical standards. Medically speaking, a person is considered obese if he or she has 20 percent (or more) extra body fat for his/her age, height, sex, and bone structure. The term "morbid" is defined in Webster's dictionary as "Not sound and healthful; induced by a diseased or abnormal condition; diseased; sickly; …" Morbid obesity is defined as more than 100 pounds greater than the ideal body weight or a Body Mass Index (BMI) that is more than 40 kg/m2.
 |
Causes of Morbid Obesity
Morbid obesity is a serious illness and not the result of immorality or gluttony. Research has shown that in many cases a significant, underlying cause of morbid obesity is genetic - you inherit the tendency to gain weight. The combination of a genetic predisposition to gain weight with plentiful and easily accessible food) has resulted in the obesity epidemic in North America and the world.
» Read more...
|
 |
|
Obesity-Related Health Conditions
Severe obesity damages the body by its mechanical, metabolic and physiological adverse effects on normal bodily function. These "co-morbidities" affect nearly every organ in the body in some way, and produce serious secondary illnesses, which may also be life-threatening.
» Read more...
|
|
|
Am I morbidly Obese?
There are several medically accepted criteria for defining morbid obesity.
- more than 100 lbs. over your ideal body weight, or
- have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of over 40, or
- have a BMI of over 35 and are experiencing severe negative health effects, such as high blood pressure or diabetes, related to being severely overweight
» Read more...
|
|
|
BMI Calculator
Use our calculator to determine your own Body Mass Index (BMI). Note that these are approximate values, are are intended to be used only as a rough guide.
» Read more...
|
|
