The concept of obesity

Obesity is a complex, multifactorial, chronic disease involving environmental (social and cultural), genetic, physiologic, metabolic, behavioral and psychological components. It is the second leading cause of preventable death in the US (300,000 - 587,000 deaths per year).

Not everyone who has a weight problem should consider surgery. It depends on whether or not you are overweight, obese, or morbidly obese.

One way to tell is by your Body Mass Index (BMI). Your BMI depends on both your weight and your height.

Who should consider surgery?

An ideal BMI is 19 to 25.' If your BMI is between 25 and 30, you are thought to be overweight. If it is higher than 30, you are obese. That means you are at risk for health problems. To get your BMI use our "BMI CALCULATOR".

Important

If your BMI is 40 or more, you are said to have "morbid" obesity. A BMI higher than 40 suggests surgery might be a proper approach. For some people with a BMI between 35 and 40 ("severe" obesity), surgery might also be a good choice. These are people who have other conditions. For instance, if your BMI is 37 and you have severe sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, or heart problems, your doctor might suggest surgery to help you lose weight.'''

In this webpage, you will find out more about the causes of obesity and morbid obesity. You will also find out about problems connected with excess weight and learn about methods for treating it.