- Causes: Morbid obesity, also known as class III obesity, can result from a combination of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. These may include genetic predisposition, unhealthy dietary habits, lack of physical activity, hormonal imbalances, certain medications, and psychological factors.
- Presentation: Morbid obesity is characterized by an excessive accumulation of body fat, typically with a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or higher. Common symptoms and complications may include difficulty breathing, sleep apnea, joint pain, fatigue, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and psychological distress.
- Investigation: The investigation of morbid obesity involves assessing medical history, conducting physical examinations, measuring BMI, and evaluating associated health conditions. Diagnostic tests may include blood tests to assess metabolic markers, imaging studies such as ultrasound or CT scans, and psychological assessments.
- Diagnosis: Diagnosis of morbid obesity is primarily based on BMI calculation, clinical assessment of obesity-related symptoms, and evaluation of associated health complications. Healthcare providers may also consider other factors such as waist circumference and medical history to confirm the diagnosis.
- Treatment: Treatment options for morbid obesity aim to achieve sustainable weight loss and improve overall health. These may include lifestyle modifications such as dietary changes and increased physical activity, behavioral therapy, medications (e.g., weight loss drugs), bariatric surgery, and ongoing medical management to address associated comorbidities.
A person whose BMI – body mass index is greater than 30 is classified as obese. Obesity can be defined as having excessive fat and being abundantly overweight. Accumulating too much body fat can be bad for health and lead to complications. BMI is a statistical measurement for obesity. It estimates body weight and is considered a useful indicator for the average individual.
BMI is calculated as BMI = mass (kg) / (height (m))2
Causes of Obesity
- Eating too much food
- Alcohol abuse
- No physical exercise
- Not enough sleep
- Medications
- Faulty gene called FTO
Diseases Caused By Obesity
Obesity is a popular condition and many people today are affected by it. There are many related conditions associated with obesity. Some of them are as below.
Heart disease :Obesity can cause coronary heart disease. Patients with coronary heart disease are prone to heart attacks and strokes. Overweight people are at a greater risk of suffering of a heart attack before the age of 50.
High blood pressure :With weight gain and age blood pressure increases and obese people have an increase in blood volume and arterial resistance. It enhances the risk of hypertension and heart attack due to obesity and subsequent high blood pressure.
Type 2 diabetes :Obese individuals develop insulin resistance which can lead to type 2 diabetes. Obesity perpetuates the cells to be resistant to the effects of insulin.
High cholesterol :An obese person has fatty deposits in blood vessels. These fatty deposits are waxy in consistency and are called cholesterol.LDL or low density lipoprotein carries cholesterol to the cells and HDL or high density lipoprotein is instrumental in reducing the risk of heart attack. High cholesterol is also called hypercholesterolemia.
Cancer :Overweight women are at a higher risk of developing cancers to the endometrium, breast, colon, kidney and gall bladder.
Back pain :Obesity causes joint and back pains. There are also risks of developing spinal injury, lower back pain, osteoporosis, arthritis and osteoarthritis. The spine is vulnerable to excessive body weight causing spinal injury.
Infertility In women, hormonal levels fluctuate due to obesity, which can lead to ovarian failure.
There are surgeries for Obesity and Related Diseases