What is morbid obesity?

  

Obesity is, by its most simple definition, the excessive accumulation of body fat that generates weight increase over what regularly corresponds to a specific size, sex and age (Ideal Body Weight) and interferes with the regular functioning of the human organism.

According to the National Institutes of Health in the United States, obesity turns morbid when the Body Mass Index (BMI) surpasses 30 (Click here to measure your BMI). Higher indexes are predisposed to development of 'co-morbidities' such as type II Diabetes Mellitus, arterial hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, spinal and lower extremities arthritic problems, hyper-lipidemia (rise in cholesterol and triglycerides) or the metabolic syndrome.

Contrary to common belief, obesity is not solely the result of excess eating but instead, the confluence of various and complex factors.

Research on this matter reveals in many instances the existence of causes of genetic, hereditary, environmental, metabolic or feeding habit nature. In a similar manner, there are also certain medical conditions that may be generators of obesity such as consumption of steroids or hypo-thyroidism.

Once the actual condition has initiated and prevails, there is little to be accomplished from individual efforts such as dietary regimes and exercise programs targeted to achieve successful long-term results.

A proper strategy for long-term weight management is bariatric surgery. Long-life and healthy living come hand in hand, yet proper surgical intervention can greatly facilitate what all of us are striving for: well being.

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