Obesity

Defining Morbid Obesity

Obesity is a serious disease with symptoms that build slowly over an extended period of time. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) define morbid obesity as: Being 100 pounds or more above your ideal body weight Or, having a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or greater Or, having a BMI of 35 or greater and one or more co-morbid condition

The disease of morbid obesity interferes with basic physical functions such as breathing or walking. Long-term implications of the disease include shorter life expectancy, serious health consequences in the form of weightrelated conditions such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease, and a lower quality of life with fewer economic and social opportunities.

Obesity is a serious public health issue in the U.S. 24 million U.S. adults are living with morbid obesity and may qualify for bariatric surgery based on NIH guidelines.

By 2012, it’s projected that there may be 40 million U.S. adults living with morbid obesity and may qualify for bariatric surgery based on NIH guidelines.

Co-morbid Conditions

The presence of obesity increases the risk of a number of medical conditions, including cancer. A co-morbid condition is a health condition related to a primary disease such as obesity.

There are many health conditions related to morbid obesity, but some of the most common are: Type 2 diabetes, which can lead to heart disease, kidney failure, blindness, amputation of the feet or legs, and nerve damage Heart disease, such as hardening of the arteries, heart attack, and angina High blood pressure, which can lead to heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, and vision loss High cholesterol, which can lead to heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure Obstructive sleep apnea has been associated with high blood pressure Acid reflux/GERD, which can lead to esophagitis, Barrett’s esophagus, and esophageal cancer (adenocarcinoma)
Cancer
Depression
Osteoarthritis and joint pain, which can lead to loss of mobility Stress urinary incontinence Female reproductive health disorder, which can lead to infertility and sexual dysfunction

An emerging body of literature demonstrating relationships between maternal obesity and structural birth defects, including: Increased risk of spina bifida and heart defects

These conditions occur more frequently in people with morbid obesity. Mortality rates from many of these conditions are also higher among people with morbid obesity.

Results of Five-Year Follow-up

The above chart compares the long-term effectiveness of three different obesity treatments: diet and exercise, weight loss medications, and bariatric surgery. Bariatric surgery clearly has the best weight loss outcome compared to the other two treatments—50 to 70 percent of people were able to lose at least 50 percent of the excess weight and keep it off for five years. After five years, only 2 to 5 percent of the people who dieted and exercised had maintained a weight loss of at least 10 percent. People who had taken weight loss medications were not able to maintain any weight loss.

Bariatric Surgery

There are several different bariatric surgery procedures, but the two general ways in which they work are restriction and malabsorption: Restriction limits the amount of food you can eat. Whether it is a gastric banding device around the stomach or a surgically-created, smaller stomach pouch, restriction ensures that the patient feels satisfied with less food. Malabsorption limits the number of calories and nutrients your body can absorb. During malabsorptive procedures, the surgeon reroutes the small intestine so that fewer calories and nutrients are absorbed.

Commonly performed bariatric procedures include:
Gastric bypass
Gastric banding
Sleeve gastrectomy

Learn more about the different bariatric surgery procedures

Diet

To lose weight, your body must burn more calories than you eat and/or
drink. A diet plan should be based on your health and lifestyle needs, and
would include reducing the number of calories you take in. If you are
considering this option, speak with your primary care physician about
nutritional guidelines, and keep in mind that many bariatric programs also
offer medically supervised weight loss programs.

Exercise

Frequent and regular physical activity is beneficial to most anyone—whether
they are pre- or postsurgery. Generally, an exercise program includes
cardiovascular exercise such as walking, swimming, or cycling, strength
training using resistance bands, weights, or machines, and stretching. Speak
with your primary care physician before beginning any physical activity.