About Obesity

Some Facts About Morbid Obesity

  • There are over 8 million Morbidly Obese Individuals (defined as a BMI > 40, or a BMI > 35 with an obesity related complication) in the United States
  • Americans spend over $33 billion per year on weight loss products
  • It is the second leading cause of preventable death claiming over 280,000 lives per year from obesity related illnesses
  • Long-term results with the non-operative treatment of obesity have been disappointing
  • Weight loss with diet and medication in the Morbidly Obese is typically regained within 18 months to 4 years after starting the weight loss program
  • In 1991, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) issued a Consensus Report stating that surgery was probably the best treatment for morbid obesity
  • There is no "magic bullet", "metabolic modifier","fat melter", "fat blocker" that is effective long term in the morbidly obese patient
  • Surgery has become the most effective long-term treatment for Morbid Obesity, as well as effectively reversing the co-morbid conditions such as Type II diabetes, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia and heart disease.
Am I Morbidly Obese?
Answering this question may give you the courage you need to take the first step. Below are tools you can use to determine if you are morbidly obese and potentially a candidate for weight loss surgery.

There are several medically accepted criteria for defining morbid obesity. You are likely morbidly obese if you are:

  • 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
  • unable to achieve a healthy body weight for a sustained period of time, even through medically supervised dieting

Select your gender, and then move the red slider handles or select your height and weight to calculate your BMI. The results of the BMI calculations are displayed below. Note that these are approximate values, and are intended to be used only as a rough guide.

Gender:
Height: ' "
Weight: lbs
BMI:
Ideal Weight: - lbs
Assessment:

BACKGROUND PERSPECTIVE

 An important conclusion of the 1991 National Institutes Consensus Development Conference Statement on the surgical treatment of obesity was that "patients judged by experienced clinicians to have a low probability of success with non-surgical measures, as demonstrated, for example, by failure in established weight control programs or reluctance by the patient to enter such a program, may be considered for surgical treatment."(1)

 Surgical treatment is medically necessary because it is the only proven method of achieving long term weight control for the morbidly obese. Surgical treatment is not a cosmetic procedure. Surgical treatment of morbid obesity does not involve the removal of adipose tissue (fat) by suction or excision. Bariatric surgery involves reducing the size of the gastric reservoir, with or without a degree of associated malabsorption. Eating behavior improves dramatically. This reduces caloric intake and ensures that the patient eats small amounts slowly, and chews each mouthful well. Success of surgical treatment must begin with realistic goals and progress through the best possible use of well designed and tested operations. These have been worked out over the last thirty years, and are now standardized, clearly defined procedures, with well recognized and documented outcome results.

 Patients whose BMI exceeds 40, or 35 and have an obesity related disease process, are potential candidates for surgery if they strongly desire substantial weight loss, because obesity morbidly impairs the quality of their lives. They must clearly and realistically understand how their lives may change after operation.

 Studies conducted after surgical treatment and weight loss have shown 1) that self esteem and positive emotions increase; 2) that body image disparagement decreases; 3) that marital satisfaction increases, but only if a measure of satisfaction existed before surgery; and 4) that eating behavior is improved dramatically. The results of surgical treatment are superior to those of dietary treatment alone.


CAUSES OF MORBID OBESITY

 1. Gastrointestinal surgery for morbid obesity: National Institutes of Health Consensus Development Conference Statement.
Am J Clin Nutr 1992; 55(2 Suppl):615S-619S.
 
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