What is Obesity?
Severe obesity is a life long struggle that is difficult to cure. The relationship between your body weight and height will determine whether you are considered to be lean, overweight, obese, or morbidly obese. Body Mass Index (BMI) was created to correlate the relationship between body weight and height.
Lean individuals have a BMI of no more than 25. A BMI above 40, meaning at least 100 pounds over ideal weight, indicates that a person is morbidly obese. The term "morbidly" reflects the increased risk of medical complications associated with such extreme weight. You may calculate your BMI through this website. Severely obese individuals with a BMI between 35 and 40, who suffer from other medical illnesses, such as diabetes, hypertension, etc., are also classified as suffering from morbid obesity and can benefit from surgery.
Obesity Statistics
- In the USA, 13% of children and adolescents are overweight or obese; more than double the number two decades ago.
- Morbidly obese individuals between the ages of 25-35 have a 12 fold greater risk of dying prematurely compared to their normal counterparts.
- In America, obesity is the second leading cause of death claiming the lives of 300,000 persons every year.
- One in five American adults are considered obese and between five and ten million of this population are considered morbidly obese.
- Obesity is medically accepted to be a disease in its own right. The cost of treatment for obesity is tax deductible.
- The American Society of Bariatric Surgery (ASBS) estimates that about 125,000 weight loss surgeries will be performed this year – a 25% increase over last year. This number seems to change rapidly as this type of treatment gains popularity.
Unfortunately, obesity does not only cause psychological disadvantages for obese individual but it can also cause many severe medical complications. Learn more about the medical complications of obesity.
Printer-friendly version
Send to friend