Obesity Information
Sixty-six percent of U.S. adults are either overweight or obese. Thirty-four million are considered obese. Obesity is the most common form of malnutrition in the Western world and some researchers consider it to be the second leading preventable cause of death in North America.
Defining Obesity
Severe clinical or morbid obesity, is a chronic condition that is difficult to treat through dietary modification and exercise alone. Classifications of obesity are defined by your Body Mass Index (BMI). You are considered obese if you have a BMI of 30 or more. Severe obesity is defined as having a BMI of more than 35. Morbid obesity constitutes a BMI of 40 or more. To determine if someone is a candidate for surgery, we use a BMI greater than 35. Click here to calculate your BMI.
Health Risks Associated with Obesity
When a person is severely obese, lifestyle is compromised. Secondary illnesses related to severe obesity can occur. Some of these conditions may put the severely obese person at risk for premature death. Secondary illnesses are also known as "comorbid conditions".
Examples of comorbid conditions:
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Heart disease
- Sleep apnea
- High cholesterol
- Metabolic syndrome
- Asthma
- Joint or back problems
- Osteoarthritis
- Heartburn or GERD
- Infertility
- Polycystic ovarian syndrome
- Kidney dysfunction
- Depression/psychosocial dysfunction
- Many types of cancer
- Fatty liver
- Headaches and migraines
- Blood clots or venous insufficiency
- Urinary incontinence
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